Man City might be about to do in Europe what they've done in the Premier League after final win

Opening the floodgates

Winning the first one is so often the hardest and don't Manchester City know it. They failed to turn up in Porto two years ago and for all the claims they were ready this time, that they knew what to expect, they hardly exerted their authority on a tense and tetchy game in Istanbul.

But finals are for winning and for the second time in a week that is what City have done. For the first time, they are champions of Europe. At the risk of being presumptuous, it won't be the last time we are saying that.

City now know what it takes to win this competition. They know how to combat the nerves, to deal with that frantic energy. To cope with the pressure and the expectation.

Let's make no mistake, the treble winners will start as favourites for next season's Champions League. Don't bet against a repeat appearance in the Wembley final.

ALSO READ: City vs Inter Milan player ratings

They might not have shown it with the quality of their performance at the Ataturk Stadium, but they are the best team in Europe. Just ask Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, beaten by a combined scoreline of 7-0 at the Etihad in the quarter-final and semi-final.

The one comfort the rest of Europe had was that Pep Guardiola's side hadn't won this competition. The dream had become an obsession, as Kevin De Bruyne and Guardiola had alluded to 24 hours before the game.

Now the gigantic, mesmerising trophy will be at the Etihad next season. City have broken their European hoodoo and as long as Guardiola stays, don't be surprised if they exert the kind of stranglehold over this competition that they have done in the Premier League.

Rodri's moment of calm

City had spent three-quarters of the game looking nervous and rattled in Istanbul,