MANCHESTER CITY are set to celebrate their historic Treble with a big victory parade in Manchester TONIGHT!
Stars such as Jack Grealish and Phil Foden have been partying in Ibiza following Saturday’s Champions League final, but they’re now back in the UK.
And though they’re getting ready for another big celebration tonight, the parade has been delayed due to adverse weather conditions. .
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Follow all the antics from Manchester with our live blog below…
The Kyle high club
Swaggering City defenders Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji are surely entitled to flaunt their non-essential sunglasses on a night like this!
Wideman Phil Foden is in the background – where, sadly, he’s also been since struggling to regain his starting spot after injury.
But the England ace was a solid sub when replacing injured Kevin de Bruyne during the second half of City’s 1-0 win over Inter Milan to clinch the Treble.
Jack the glad
Of course it’s Jack Grealish taking centre stage with the celebrations.
He’s enjoying it like it’s the final minute of the Champions League victory – rather than the triumphant parade nearly 48 hours later.
Silva gets the big one
Bernardo Silva gets his hands on the main prize – the Champions League trophy.
City’s players are enjoying this – after winning the Treble has finally sunk in.
But there seems another slight hold-up amid continuing thunderstorms.
Players are pointing out fans amid plenty of banter.
Here’s how it looks at home
Confetti guns are firing out as City crawl though the city.
The blur of blue blended with the rain as the Treble winners milked the applause.
Pep smokes cigar
Manager Pep Guardiola is really smoking.
Having completed the Treble, the City boss relaxed by lighting up a big cigar from the back of an open-top boss.
Goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor wore a huge, almost smug, smile, alongside Pep.
Grealish leads celebrations
Hooters and confetti made this a loud, proud parade as supporters trail behind the buses.
Jack Grealish – surprise, surprise – is leading the jubilation on board.
Players son bus launch parade amid confetti
Thousands of fans lined up along the roads as the player-less open-top bus was driven into place before City’s squad jumped on board.
And once the players were on it the celebrations turned crazy!
The bus is snaking its way slowly through the city in heavy rain.
So far the delay is drifting
Box fresh
Most City fans didn’t seem to bothered by the damp conditions – but one fan slipped a cardboard box on his head.
The majority of supporters are lightly dressed in T-shirts.
And the downpour which has helped hold up the parade for an hour made little difference to their spirits.
Jolly with a brolly
City Square presenters Natalie Pike and Danny Jackson took defensive action against the heavy rain.
Fans will be entertained by DJ booths after the players complete what could be an hour-long parade through the town.
Rub of the sheen
Ruben Dias gets an early grab of the shiny Champions League trophy as the parade is due to start.
It looks like there’s another slight delay.
Tram raiders!
City’s heroes ae on the way to the parade via the town’s Metrolink Tram.
Jack Grealish went topless as he spread his arms on a crowded carriage.
And Aymeric Laporte was in sunglasses as his smile beamed out louder than the shouts of his team-mates.
Judging by this, it’s going to be some celebration.
More than just hot air
City have strong claims to be England’s finest club team ever.
And this street vendor selling balloons clearly doesn’t believe such talk is just hot air.
He was on hand to deliver some silver service.
City of course have been more used to Silva treatment – David and now Bernardo.
And fans were on a high this evening – climbing up for the best views.
Pep Guardiola and his Treble-winning squad matched feat of Alex Ferguson’s United of 24 years ago.
And who’s to say they won’t go close again next season?
On red alert for parade
Lights, camera, action! This fan will be close to getting a head-to-head view of his heroes after clambering up traffic lights to watch the parade.
Pep Guardiola’s Treble winners should be along in just over a quarter of an hour – when it will be green for go on massive celebrations.
Fans in place…
City supporters are chomping at the bit as they count down to the delayed parade.
It’s by far the greatest season in the club’s history – winning the Prem, FA Cup and then the Champions League.
Push through the rain barrier
Fans – many of who have queued for hours – aren’t being deterred by the rain ahead of City’s delayed victory parade.
But they are being frustrated by the delay.
One posted: “They keep using this forecast and its not changed since 5pm, get the parade going!!!”
Not long to wait now, chaps – just 25 minutes… weather permitting.
PSG ‘offer 2 stars for Bernardo’
Amid the build-up to City’s historic parade, it’s claimed PSG offered two Italy stars in a bid to lure Etihad hero Bernardo Silva.
Foot Mercato say the French champions offered City their midfielder Marco Verratti, 30, and 24-year-old keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
PSG have long admired Portugal midfield stylist Silva.
And asked about his future by TF1 following City’s Champions League final win, he said: “Honestly, I don’t know.
“We’ll see what happens in the next few weeks and months.
“But right now we need to celebrate because we’ve achieved something special.”
Fans frustrated by hold-up
Eager City fans on social media seem puzzled by the delay – but club chiefs insist it’s a safety-first approach caused by bad weather.
One supporter: “It’s not even raining anymore.”
Another wrote: “Looking at the radar the weather looks like it will be even worse at 7pm.”
Another delay….
City now say the parade won’t start until 7pm.
That’s due to “adverse weather” including “lightning storms”.
Gate expectations
Just a reminder that fans eager to find a spot to watch the parade were alerted to a hold-up due to rain.
But the open-top journey itself should still start at 6.30pm as planned.
Fans on social media have been getting impatient.
“Open the gates,” was one typical message, while United supporters trolled online that the delay was due to a lack of City fans.
But Etihad chiefs stressed the delay was for safety reasons.
City nearly ready…
What a change after the night before!
City’s refreshed stars are beaming in club T-shirts – just half an hour before their triumphant parade is due to start.
All change!
It’s one of the biggest questions of the night…
Will Jack Grealish finally have got changed!
The midfielder was more emotional than most after victory over Inter Milan clinched City’s Treble.
And it seems the England star also partied longer than most!
He didn’t find time to get changed after a wild night out in Ibiza.
But of course, after the players arrived back in Manchester, Grealish and the rest of Pep Guardiola’s players will soon be looking their best.
Fun on the way
Police are out in extra force to help ensure safety – but apart from that the focus is on fun.
Three DJ booths can be found along the route.
And City’s history-making squad should finally arrive at their final stop at around 7.30pm.
Routing for you
The homecoming parade, due to start in 45 minutes, departs from Tonman Street in Deansgate and heads to St Mary’s Gate.
The bus will travel through Cross Street and King Street,
It will then finish on the corner of Princess Street and Portland Street.
Soon to be the NOISIEST neighbours ever
Legendary Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson once called City the “noisy neighbours”.
Well, if you throw in their fans, they are just about to become the NOISIEST ever.
A parade though the town to celebrate City’s Treble-clinching Champions League final win is still on schedule to start at 6.30pm – despite rain delaying the build-up.
And we’ll be outlining just what’s planned for this evening.
Rainy conditions
It’s be a wet one in Manchester when the parade gets underway… but something tells me the players and fans won’t care one bit.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk