Three-in-a-row for City

City, which has now won the competition in five of the last seven campaigns, dominated much of the Wembley clash and should have been home and dry when it took a 2-0 lead. Aguero broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, with Rodri doubling the advantage around the half-hour mark.

Yet Tanzanian striker Mbwana Samatta headed home for Villa just before half-time, following a bizarre slip from City defender John Stones, to fuel its hopes of a comeback. However, the second half failed to live up to the first. There were few clear chances until City keeper Claudio Bravo pulled off a remarkable save to push Bjorn Engels’s header against the post and out in the 87th minute.

City is the first side to win the competition for three seasons in a row since Liverpool claimed four straight titles from 1981 to 1984. The club has won it seven times and trails record holder Liverpool, which has lifted the trophy on eight occasions. “Three times in a row is a big success. It’s the consistency, incredible,” said City’s manager Pep Guardiola.

“It was awesome. We struggled in the first few minutes and the last ones. Villa had two clear chances at the start but we played really well, especially in the second half.” The victory dispelled some of the disappointment that has hung over the club after it was hit by a two-season European ban for allegedly flouting UEFA’s financial rules.

While City’s Premier League title defence is in tatters, as it trails leader Liverpool by 22 points, Guardiola’s side remains in the hunt for a treble which would be the envy of most clubs, with the FA Cup and Champions League still up for grabs.