Having scored the goal that delivered Manchester City an elusive first Champions League, Rodri challenged his team-mates to win more to emulate Europe鈥檚 greatest teams.

The Spaniard鈥檚 sweetly struck effort proved the difference against Inter Milan in Istanbul.

But Rodri, 26, wants City to now dominate European football and create a dynasty like 14-time winners Real Madrid or seven-time European champions AC Milan.

鈥淵es,鈥� he said. 鈥淔or me, and I said this before the game, it was so important to win against Inter because we can build a legacy for the future. 

鈥淲e can trust in ourselves that we did it and this is what teams like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, AC Milan 鈥� these kind of clubs 鈥� did in the past. 

鈥淪o yes we believe we can do it again. I think that鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so important.鈥�

Rodri also praised chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak and past City heroes for helping to pave the way to fulfil this dream, which was only deemed possible after Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, deputy prime minister of the UAE, bought the club in 2008.

They have faced setbacks, scrutiny, unlucky moments and obstacles, with Financial Fair Play investigations and charges from UEFA and the Premier League, which they have denied.

鈥淚 think this talks a little bit about life 鈥� you have to try and push, even though some years it鈥檚 not been fair for us,鈥� Rodri said.

鈥淪port is like this. You have to keep going and keep going and in the end God gave this amazing present for all of us. 

鈥淭he good point is we won, but we created a culture and we won more. Guys like Erling (Haaland), 22-year-olds, and the lads coming now, we have a very good squad for the next years.

鈥淚 said when I finished the game I don鈥檛 want to forget players like Fernandinho, Sergio (Aguero), David Silva, (Vincent) Kompany 鈥� many players who had been working eight, nine, 10 years at this club to help it arrive at this level.

鈥淲e take the fruits (of their labor) and this victory is for all of them. I said to Khaldoon, 鈥楾his is the work of 10, 15 years behind us.鈥� I鈥檓 inside the club and I know how big this chairman is.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a victory of many years of work at this amazing club.鈥�

About his own special moment and time at City, Rodri said: 鈥淭hey trusted me to come here, even though the change wasn鈥檛 easy. 

鈥淚t was a new culture for me and I arrive now scoring the most important goal in the history of this club. We deserve it, what a season.鈥�