After leading Manchester City to their first Champions League title, Pep Guardiola spoke of the need to build on that success.

Real Madrid’s record haul of 14 European Cups is safe for some time yet — but there is every reason to believe City will go on to win the competition again and again.

This was, after all, their second final in three seasons.

The 1-0 win against Inter Milan in Istanbul’s Ataturk Olimpic Stadium on Saturday night had been coming. And the wealth of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, combined with Guardiola’s apparent insatiable drive for perfection, means City have the potential to become even stronger in the coming years.

Guardiola is a huge fan of Michael Jordan. And just as one title wasn’t enough for the Chicago Bulls icon, who went on to win six NBA championships, Guardiola knows City’s legacy in Europe depends on repeated success.

Madrid are serial winners, having lifted four Champions League titles between 2014 and 2018, and winning again in 2022. That is the benchmark for City.

“There are teams who win the Champions League and after one or two seasons disappear,” Guardiola said.

“This is what you have to avoid. Knowing me, this is not going to happen.”

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of City’s treble of trophies this season, including the Premier League title and FA Cup, is that it came in a year of transition in which a new striker in Erling Haaland was added, along with a change of system as Guardiola adopted a three-man defence.

There is the potential for further evolution in midfield with captain Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva possible departures.

Guardiola is a big admirer of England international Jude Bellingham, but Real Madrid have won the race for the highly-rated midfielder.

An alternative may be sought, particularly if Gundogan or Silva go. In Phil Foden, City have an option ready for more involvement than he managed during this season.

Guardiola is not the type of coach to stand still and Abu Dhabi backers have consistently provided with the funds to improve his team with the world’s best players.

Having finally made the breakthrough in the Champions League, Guardiola will not want to risk taking a backward step. That is likely what he will tell Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

There was a 12-year gap between Guardiola’s last European Cup win with Barcelona in 2011 and his latest.

He has triumphed in this competition on three occasions and knows how difficult it is to win.

Only Madrid have successfully defended the trophy since it was rebranded as the Champions League in 1992, winning it in three successive seasons from 2016-18.

That is a measure of the standard required to dominate the European game. And while City may have bold ambitions, the competition could hardly be more intense.

Rodri adjudged best

City midfielder Rodri was named the Champions League’s Player of the Season by Uefa on Sunday after a stellar 2022-23 campaign. The 26-year-old Spain international scored the winning goal on Saturday. Rodri appeared in all but one of City’s Champions League matches, scoring twice. He delivered a standout performance in the final, earning the Player of the Match award.