ERLING HAALAND has revealed the first time Manchester City players knew they were going win the Premier League title.
City lifted a record fourth English title in a row thanks to a 3-1 over West Ham on the final day which ensured they remained two points clear of Arsenal.
Yet the run-in for the title was not without pressure.
Arsenal sat one point ahead of City in the closing weeks of the season, with Pep Guardiola’s side having a game in hand.
They knew they would need to win every game in their run in to land the club’s 10th league title.
City had managed this until their penultimate game of the season which came away at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, where Guardiola had previously never seen his team win.
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However, City banished their Spurs demons thanks to a brace from Haaland.
And the golden boot winner, 23, has now revealed winning the match gave City certainty they would go on to finish the job against West Ham.
Speaking to Sky Sports following the Hammers match, Haaland said: “I think after we won at Spurs, we kinda knew we were going to do it.
“Being in the Premier League has been harder than expected. The way every game is like – it’s not a final, but it’s not far away.
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“You can’t relax after 45 minutes. Every game is so intense and tough.
“Pep demands a lot every day and if you don’t live up to what he expects you’re in big trouble. I love him to bits.”
Haaland’s revelation is far more placid than team-mate Rodri, who questioned whether Arsenal had the mentality to win the league and accused them of playing to not lose at the Etihad.
A message was also plastered on to the wall of City’s dressing room as extra motivation.
City showed a message on their Instagram page of Haaland sitting down with a message behind him.
It read: “No team has ever won four consecutive Premier League titles… yet.”
City, who were also the first club to score 100 points in England’s top flight, are now in their own company in terms of their unprecedented period of dominance.
Bernardo Silva, who got two assists on the final day, was also proud of the achievement, adding: “The margins are so small. Liverpool in two seasons, we beat them by one points, now Arsenal by just two points.
“The achievement is unbelievable. Four in a row, we are so, so proud and so, so happy.”
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The City team attended the Fenix bar in Manchester to celebrate their achievement.
The likes of Jack Grealish appeared to have had a night to remember as they were pictured leaving the bar at 5am.
Man City’s five key moments this season
A look at the five key moments in Man City’s title winning campaign…
- Luton 1 – 2 Man City: City bounce back from a run of four games without a win to kick-start their unbeaten run.
- Newcastle 2 – 3 Man City: Kevin De Bruyne returns from injury to come off the bench and inspire a late turnaround against the Magpies.
- Man City 3 – 1 Man Utd: Phil Foden puts on a masterclass as City lay down a marker on their title ambitions and breeze past their local rivals in the process.
- Man City 0 – 0 Arsenal: A goalless draw that, although disappointing, meant City were still keeping pace with the teams around them and could maintain their spot in the title race. A loss could have put Arsenal out of sight of the Cityzens.
- Man City 4 – 1 Aston Villa: Following consecutive draws against title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, City bounce back with a thumping of Unai Emery’s high-flying Villa to keep the pressure on the Gunners.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
