Here, finally, was Erling Haaland.
Since the season began last July, it had taken until the fourth hour of Manchester City's media day in June for the Striking Viking to speak to written media about his time at the club. In that time Haaland has changed how goalscoring is viewed in England and is one game away from fulfilling the biggest dream behind his move to the Etihad.
City knew the Norwegian would elevate the profile of the club as everyone flocked to get a glimpse of the phenomenon, yet his performances on the pitch have sent his media appearances skyrocketing. On top of all the interviews with rights-holders around matches, Haaland has done up to 30 immediately after games after making himself the story again and again with his 52 goals (and eight assists); under those circumstances, you can hardly blame him for not stopping for an optional 31st.
It is a sign of the historic circumstances Haaland has propelled City towards that he is stood on an indoor pitch in Manchester in June in front of a scrum of reporters all shouting questions at him. A player brought to help the Blues win the Champions League is 90 minutes away from doing so.
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Yet that all felt a long way away back in February as City slumped to another limp defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Their No.9 had just gone goalless for the third league game in a row and Pep Guardiola saw his team far away from runaway leaders Arsenal.
The commentary was stinging, with an otherwise fair critique from Jamie Carragher on Sky going over the top when analysing the team's problems finding their striker by suggesting that Haaland had joined the wrong club and was only operating at 60 per cent. Note that he is not saying that anymore.
Guardiola did not particularly bite on Carragher's comments whenever a version of them was presented, and the player himself has not been put out of his stride. Speaking ahead of the final about it, Haaland enjoys being talked about.
"I think often it’s a good thing when people start criticising you. I scored every single game and then people started criticising me," he said.
"That’s what happened basically. When people criticise you it’s normally a good thing it’s just about trying to smile a bit and enjoy life.
"In the Community Shield I missed a couple of big chances. It can happen, it will happen again. "What can you do? Nothing. We have to focus on the next thing, the next game and that’s what I did.
"I scored two goals in the next game, so it was still not a bad start. I don’t read anything because I think my brain would be a bit crazy if I was reading everything everyone is writing.
"I cannot do that but of course I get things with me and then it was even better to score two goals in the next game. It’s normally a positive thing when people write negative things about you so I don’t focus too much about that."
Haaland hears what he needs to as part of an all-consuming dedication to football that sees his large frame meticulously looked after between matches. From the number of minutes trained and physio sessions to the sourcing of meat and monitoring his internal body clock, there is no stone on the path to excellence that Haaland leaves unturned.
Such a broad view leaves space for perspective, as the man whose goals have propelled City towards the Treble has seen his goals dry up of late with only one goal in his last seven appearances. With some strange comparisons appearing on social media arguing Harry Kane has had the better season, did City in fact sign the wrong striker?
No, they did not. It seemed fairly laughable for United's forwards coach to talk after the FA Cup Final about how they had made Haaland largely ineffective when his actions created a goal inside 12 seconds against them.
While Haaland's primary currency may have been in shorter supply, he is still very much in credit across the season. That is certainly the way he looks at it - and is also keeping tally of his assists.
"You can think of it as one goal in seven games or 52 goals in 52 games and eight assists, I think," he said. "You can think of it in both ways. I’m not stressed. I feel really good."
The fact Haaland isn't stressed is a sign of how happy his first year in Manchester has been. The 22-year-old had sleepless nights when he was trying to decide which club to leave Dortmund for last year, but everything has been put in place by his team and City to ensure that he can focus on doing what he does best.
A big plus for City when Haaland was deciding was their need for a No.9, but the Champions League must also have appealed - the player is almost as desperate as the club are to win it. Breaking new boundaries is what Haaland thrives on, and relishes the idea of making more history.
"Of course I feel pressure. I would lie if I said I didn’t," he said. "City won the Premier League without me, they won every trophy without me. So I’m here to try to do a thing that the club has never done before and I’ll do my best.
"If you’d said this scenario before the season I wouldn’t think of it, of course. But, again, when you look at the team, how close they’ve been with every single trophy every single season it’s not like it’s been not possible.
"We have been believing in ourselves ever since I came here. Just one game left, I don’t know what more to say. It would mean everything."
With Haaland's help, City - finally - may be kings of Europe.
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