PEP'S PERFECTION

Sheikh sees Guardiola genius crowned

- Jeremy Cross

MAN CITY......1

RODRI 68

INTER MILAN..0

IT WAS so special even Sheikh Mansour bothered to show up to witness it.

Okay, so he had waited until his Manchester City were nailed-on to win the biggest club prize of all.

And 1,800 miles in a private plane from Abu Dhabi is no great hardship, either.

Not when the end result is a moment in time like this, thanks to one swing of Rodri’s cultured right boot.

An historic, game-changing triumph that catapulted City from European wannabes into footballing folklore and confirmed Pep Guardiola’s coaching genius.

It takes something special to persuade Mansour to leave his own kingdom for a football match.

Prior to landing in Istanbul last night he had attended just one game since buying the club back in 2008.

But he didn’t want to miss the climax of an endless dream.

The coronation of a footballing king and his wonderful team.