'Like shaking a fizzy drink and opening it' - how ex-Man City players celebrated treble win

"It was meant to happen this way," says Shaun Wright-Phillips, on one of the open-top buses about to embark on its journey around Manchester in the middle of a thunderstorm.

He was talking about Manchester City's treble win and Champions League success, but could easily have been referring to the very-Mancunian way that Monday's trophy parade unfolded. Moments after Wright-Phillips reflected on an 'extraordinary' weekend of celebrations, the heavens opened, and wouldn't close until the parade was done and the fireworks had gone off in St Peter's Square. Still, the party continued despite the relentless downpour.

Wright-Phillips was in Istanbul to see City end their search for a Champions League title thanks to Rodri's winner, completing a historic treble and adding another major trophy to the collection. He joined the team celebrations on the pitch, chatting with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and attended the squad's after-party at the team hotel.

"It was the one thing everybody keeps saying - 'oh, are they an elite club because they haven't won the Champion League'. Now that conversation's gone, now what can people say?" Wright-Phillips told MEN Sport from the front of the Asahi bus that joined the parade.

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"City have shown their worth on many a level. Now they're just taking another level to win the treble which only one other team has done."

After coming through the City academy, Wright-Phillips played over 200 times for the club across two spells spanning 12 years. He can now be seen on the club's Matchday Live and commercial operations, and that is how he watched the Champions League final alongside two figures who were