Tuesday 8 December 2015 23:29, UK
Niall Quinn thinks Manchester City have "come of age" after topping their Champions League group for the first time.
It looked as though City would again settle for the runners-up spot as they trailed Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 at half-time on Tuesday evening.
But they produced a thrilling late comeback to win 4-2 and finish ahead of Juventus in Group D after the Italians were beaten 1-0 at Sevilla.
The result ensures City will avoid Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona in the last 16.
"It feels like they are coming of age to top the group," said former City forward Quinn on Soccer Special. "They can now look forward to the draw on December 14 and feel good about themselves.
"I saw a connection between the crowd and the players in the last 10 minutes and they knew things were going well. They were awesome on the ball and there was a connectivity there that suggested this result means more than any other this season.
"This is the one that makes them probably the Premier League's best bet in this competition and a step ahead of the rest, at least for one night.
"It hasn't happened before and it's of enormous benefit to everyone connected with the club that the result in Seville went their way."
City had finished as runners-up for the past two seasons, and drew Barcelona in the last 16 on both occasions.
However, they could now come up against the likes of PSV or Benfica and Quinn thinks they have a "wonderful chance" to make it to the quarter-finals for the first time.
"Their tails are up after coming through that group," he said. "They were magnificent in the second half. They were nervous and tense in the first and didn't expect Gladbach to play the way they did.
"But whatever Manuel Pellegrini said at half-time saw them come out a totally different outfit and it worked brilliantly.
"Their mentality was so different in the second half. The defenders looked like leaders, so you have to take the positives. Defensively they were better after a tough opening 45 minutes.
"There is nothing like winning a game like this to make them feel better about life going forwards."
