This is just the start, say City
Manchester City defender Micah Richards insists his side's 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Stoke on Saturday will herald the start of a glorious era at Eastlands.
While Manchester United's Premier League title triumph at Blackburn a few hours earlier stole some of the spotlight from City's first major trophy in 35 years, Richards is convinced Roberto Mancini's side are on the verge of emulating the dominance of their bitter local rivals.
With the financial backing of their Abu Dhabi-based owners, Richards believes City will sign more star players before next season to build on a Cup final success secured by Yaya Toure's 74th minute winner at Wembley.
"It's unbelievable. Words can't describe it. We've worked hard all season and we've won it. I can't believe it," Richards said.
"This is just the start. This is the first trophy and this is the most important one. We will build from this. We will buy in the summer. These are exciting times."
City's victory also provided a tantalising glimpse of better things to come from Mario Balotelli, who delivered a hard-working display and then admitted he has finally realised he has to be less selfish after a troubled first season in English football.
After several tantrums and tear-ups over the last nine months, Balotelli's mature performance will encourage Mancini to believe his substantial investment in the young Italian striker can still pay off.
"I feel good. I said before the game that we are better than them. We have to respect them because they are a good team but if we give everything we will win," Balotelli said.
"I said all the time that my season wasn't good. I played not very good. Today I played more for the team, this is important.
"Every player at this club has quality and I want to give my quality for the team."
City's triumph added another medal to Patrick Vieira's bulging trophy cabinet. The Frenchman won the Cup several times during his spell at Arsenal and he dedicated the victory to City's long-suffering fans.
"It means a lot to the players but even more to the fans," Vieira said. "They have been waiting a long time for this. It is fantastic. There has been a lot of pressure on this team. It's a really fantastic season for us."
Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen was one of the few players from Tony Pulis's team to emerge with any credit as the underdogs paid the price for a timid display.
Denmark international Sorensen, who made two superb saves in the first half, conceded that his side never got going.
"The first half was a big disappointment," Sorensen said. "The goal came at a bad time for us, just as we were getting in the game, but it's so disappointing.
"As a team we never really created any flowing play, we didn't hold the ball up well. The better team won, and we didn't play well.”
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