MANCHESTER CITY are champions of England once again after neighbours Manchester United lost at home to Leicester City.
Pep Guardiola’s dominant side have now lifted their third title in four years after blowing away the rest of the field.
City were hoping to spend Saturday evening celebrating their title triumph but were forced to put the champagne on ice after losing 2-1 at home to Chelsea.
But it was just a matter of when before their champion status was confirmed – with three matches to spare – when Caglar Soyuncu headed home Leicester’s 66th-minute winner at Old Trafford.
It caps a dominant decade for City who have now won five titles in the last 10 years after being pipped to the post by Liverpool last season.
It caps a remarkable month for the club after they booked a spot in their first ever Champions League final on May 29 after knocking out Paris Saint-Germain.
For Guardiola, it is his ninth league title in his managerial career having won three with Barcelona, three with Bayern and now three with Man City.
Speaking of City’s success, the gaffer admitted this was the most difficult one to win.
He said: “This has been a season and a Premier League title like no other. This was the hardest one.
“We will always remember this season for the way that we won. I am so proud to be the manager here and of this group of players.
“They are so special. To come through this season – with all the restrictions and difficulties we’ve faced – and show the consistency we have is remarkable. It is relentless.
“Every single day, they are there, fighting for success, trying always to be better. They have been so, so resilient.
“That is equally true of each and every member of our backroom staff, who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that our players are fully equipped to take on the unexpected challenges and new routines throughout such a turbulent year.
“Not forgetting, of course, all of the staff across our organisation who work to make this club the success it is.
“It is so important to say a huge thank to all our fans. In our toughest moments, we couldn’t hear the crowd get behind us as usual, but we know they are with us everywhere we go and that has lifted us.
“I promise them we sense their love, we appreciate it and we could not have done what we have done without it.”
Man City draped a huge banner from the Colin Bell stand at the Etihad once their triumph was confirmed with the words ‘Champions’ emblazoned across the front.
And Guardiola paid tribute to Bell, regarded as one of City’s greatest ever players, who died age 74 in January.
He added: “It has been such a hard year for so many people. This one is really for our fans and for Colin Bell and all his family.”
Around 100 Man City supporters headed to the Etihad to celebrate, where they set off flares and drunk champagne – while one fan even played Oasis hit wonderwall on a saxophone.
Guardiola’s tactical masterclasses bamboozled opposition throughout the season, with Ilkay Gundogan’s influential in a false 9 position and Phil Foden emerging as a bona fide superstar.
He will also look back to the ÂŁ65million signing of Ruben Dias as having a major impact on their season.
The centre-back, who has filled the boots of Vincent Kompany, made his debut after Leicester thrashed City 5-2 at the Etihad in September.
City have conceded just 19 goals since and he has formed a superb partnership with John Stones.
Man City broke the record for the most consecutive wins, reaching a remarkable 21 which ran from 82 days, starting in December and ending in March.
Club captain Fernandinho said of his fourth title win with City: “I am so proud and so happy with what we have achieved. The Premier League is the hardest league in world football – every single game is tough.
“To win it again means the world to me and the rest of the squad.
“To captain this team is an honour and a privilege because the players have given their all throughout season, whether in training or in matches. The teamwork has been amazing.
“Football is everything to us and we strive every single day to be as good as we can be in the hope we can bring success to Manchester City.
“Winning the Premier League title is the ultimate fulfilment of our ambitions. It’s what we all dreamed of as young players, so to do it is a wonderful feeling.
“We have missed the fans so much. We wanted to do this for them. We will enjoy this moment and we hope the fans do too. Rest assured we will continue to do everything we can to bring the Champions League home this season.”
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also congratulated their rivals but warned it will be the Reds who will make a title charge next season.
After the Leicester defeat, he said: “Congratulations to Man City for winning the league. Very worthy champions. But that’s where new want to be. They’ve put the bar where it is. It’s up to us to take the next step.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
