By Andrew Warshaw
May 23 – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hailed his players as “legends” as the club won their fourth Premier League title in five years on Sunday in the most dramatic and nail-biting of circumstances.
After a season-long duel with Liverpool, City seemed to have all but handed the title to their rivals on the final day as they trailed Aston Villa – ironically managed by former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard – 2-0 with just 15 minutes left.
But a three-goal blitz in five electrifying minutes secured a breathtaking comeback to break the hearts of Liverpool fans who had seen their side come from behind to beat Wolves 3-1, ultimately all to no avail in the chase for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies in a single campaign.
City fans poured on to the field in celebration at the final whistle after pipping Liverpool by a single point. “The moment we found a goal, it changed everything. We were not playing in normal circumstances but you have to handle it,” said Guardiola.
“We are legends. When you win the Premier League four times in five seasons, it’s because these guys are so, so special. We will be remembered. This group of players are absolutely eternal in this club because what we achieved is so difficult.”
“The magnitude of your achievement is defined by the magnitude of your rival. I’ve never seen a team like Liverpool. I know it’s tough, but a huge congratulations to them. They help us to be a better team.”
City’s euphoria was in contrast to Liverpool’s disappointment as they once again finished in the runners-up spot. But having won both domestic cup competitions, Jurgen Klopp’s men now have a Champions League final against Real Madrid to look forward to next weekend in Paris
Klopp, who in 2020 led Liverpool to their first title since the Premier League was created, commented: “You can’t do more than give your absolute best and that’s what the boys did again. We chased the best team in the world to the wire; that’s absolutely special. We’ll build a team again and go again.”
“I’ve already told them 500 million times: this is the best group I’ve ever had. It’s a joy to come into work every morning. We need a solid basis to react to defeats. We know why we didn’t make it – we needed a bit more consistency in the first half of the season.”
“There’s space for improvement and we’ll work on that. It’s really cool when you don’t need 10 changes, you just build on what you have. That’s what we’ll do. If people on the outside don’t understand how special this club is, I can’t help them. Hopefully now, we’ll get our third trophy of the season.”
At the other end of the table there was similar euphoria and anguish as Leeds United stayed up and Burnley were relegated after a six-season spell in the top flight.
Jack Harrison’s stoppage-time winner for Leeds in a 2-1 win at Brentford ensured Premier League survival to spark ecstatic celebrations by the visiting fans while Burnley’s 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United sealed their fate, joining Norwich and Watford in the Championship next season.
Leeds, who had collected two points from their previous five league games, rode their luck but somehow survived despite having started the day in the bottom three on goal difference. “I believed all the way we were going to do this,” said Leeds manager Jesse Marsch. “This business is about belief and exuding it. I believed in the players and their resolve.”
Burnley’s demotion, by contrast, yet again called into question the wisdom of sacking long-time manager Sean Dyche last month and replacing him with the interim Mike Jackson
The other big story of the day came at relegated Norwich where Tottenham Hotspur, who brought in stellar coach Antonio Conte last November to revive a flagging season, won 5-0 to finish fourth and clinch the final lucrative Champions League spot from under the noses of arch-rivals Arsenal who thrashed Everton 5-1 but had to be content with a Europa League place next season.
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