Raheem Sterling threw down the gauntlet to Tottenham right from the first minute at Wembley.
And Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola feels that the England star's aggressive start to the game put the Londoners on the back foot and helped to ensure the Blues' dominance.
Sterling has suffered a slump in form, and seemingly in confidence, in the last few weeks, and has fallen behind the rising stars of Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez in the City pecking order.
But a fine display at Wembley means he is now back at the forefront of Guardiola's thinking, with two Champions League semi-final legs against Paris Saint Germain and a potential Premier League title clincher against Crystal Palace coming up in the next ten days.
Guardiola, who has staunchly defended the player during his slip in form, saying that he was only out of the team because of the extreme form of Foden and Mahrez, gave his verdict on Sterling after the Blues beat Spurs in the Carabao Cup final to land the first silverware of the season.
"Amazing. Especially he showed the opponent we came here to win," said Guardiola.
"Incredibly aggressive, not easy, so fast and they are an incredibly good team defending the blocks. (Former manager Jose) Mourinho is a master of it.
"(Goalkeeper Hugo)Lloris made three or four saves. But he was brilliant, trained really well and made an incredible performance.
"He deserved a goal, he created chances. The players who were playing – I’m happy for Ferna and Sergio – six times they’ve won this title.
"How should I say to my players, they have to win the game after performing like that. We won the first one and we are close to a second one and we go to Paris for another one."
