Western Sydney are not the champions of Asia because they're the best team in Asia. Even Tony Popovic, in his reflective moments, will admit that. They're champions because they've been physically strong, and mentally even stronger.

It's been a triumph of belief, and desire, and resolve, and unshakeable confidence in a mission which began when the club was formed less than three years ago. Popovic is at the heart of it, creating a culture of sacrifice, and building on it. Two heartbreaking grand final defeats didn't knock him out of his stride, and here's his reward. Australian coaches are rarely in demand abroad, but Popovic will be after this. It will be a struggle for the Wanderers to keep him.

Western Sydney, of course, rode their luck in the final, and Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura will now be as popular in Riyadh as he is in Zagreb, having turned down two stonewall penalty appeals. The sense of injustice from Al-Hilal spilled over at the final whistle, and the sense of fair play had evaporated completely by the time of the presentation. The Wanderers raised the trophy to 64,986 empty seats, only the 14 visiting fans applauding them. But they won't care. Back in the early hours in Parramatta, the celebrations had already begun, and the Wanderers will be the toast of the west for weeks to come.

There have been many heroes along the way, not least Ante Covic, the evergreen goalkeeper deservedly voted player of the tournament. But evergreen doesn't begin to describe his coach, Ron Corry, who was there to share the moment of a lifetime. Corry is 73, the oldest coach in professional sport in Australia, but forever young. Popovic will be wrapt he gets to share the glory with the man who coached him at the start of his own career.

Such is the nature of things that the Wanderers won't be able to dwell on their success. By the time the team touches down in Sydney, Popovic's mind will already have turned to Friday night's match in Wellington, where the Wanderers begin the task of climbing off the foot of the A-League table. Then there's a trip to Perth before the fans finally get their chance to truly salute their heroes in the rescheduled match against Central Coast Mariners on November 19. Pirtek Stadium should be bursting at the seams, which begs the next question. How big can the Wanderers be?