With the sides locked at 12-12, it was Mallía who rounded off a silky move from the now five-time European champions, scoring the try that would prove to be the match-winning score.

And Mola hailed the impact of the Pumas international, who returned to the side after undergoing an operation on his finger.

“It’s a great story,” Mola said. “Four months ago, when we were looking for a medical joker, we were torn between Santiago Chocobares and Juan Cruz Mallía.

“At the same time, we had a few injuries at outside centre and on the flanks but just after he arrived, he got his finger caught in a bib and had to undergo an operation, so the lad was devastated.

“And then, tonight, he scored the match-winning try, which is just great and it just goes to show that he’s good enough to play for us.

“He’s a lad that was recommended to me by Mario Ledesma and Gonzalo Quesada, so I can now thank them given how key he was today.”

Mola also added that the win is even sweeter with a new generation of Toulouse players who replaced a squad that were so dominant over a decade ago.

“Toulon triumphed several years in a row, then Leinster became king of the Champions Cup, then Saracens.

“Eleven years may seem like an eternity, but ask the clubs that never had the chance to win it how they feel about that.

“Only three French clubs have won it so far, so, I think we should stay humble, because dry spells can last longer than you think.

“The post-2012 era was a tough one for Stade Toulousain, because new players came in to replace a generation that had won everything.”

Toulouse head coach Ugo Mola has praised the impact of Argentinian centre Juan Cruz Mallía, who scored his side’s all-important try on his first European start to clinch the Heineken Champions Cup for a record-breaking fifth time.