THE HARDEST ONE
Pep hails toughest title as United gift City crown
PEP GUARDIOLA last night described this title win as the toughest of his career after Manchester City clinched a third Premier League crown in four years.
Leicester City’s 2-1 victory at Manchester United rubberstamped City as champions with three matches remaining. After
a sluggish start to the se season, City manager GGa Guardiola masterminded a run of 15 consecutive leag league wins to take charge of th the division — and never looked back.
City have h now won five of the last 10 league titles and victory over Ch Chelsea in the Champions League final on May 29 would cemen cement this season as the best in the c club’s history.
‘this has been a season and a Premi Premier League title like no other,’ Guardiola said. ‘this was th the hardest one. We will always remember this season for the way that we won.
‘ ‘i i am so proud to be the manag manager here and of this group of play players. they are so special. to com come through this season — with a all the restrictions and difficu difficulties we’ve faced — and show t 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.
‘Whether that’s been from the offices at the City Football academy or working from home, the efforts of every employee in such trying circumstances have contributed to this achievement.’
Guardiola also paid tribute to one of the club’s finest players of all time, Colin Bell, who passed away in January. Bell won the old First Division with City in 1968, as well as both domestic trophies and the CupWinners’ Cup during a 13-year stay at Maine Road.
‘this one is really for our fans and for Colin Bell and all his family,’ the Catalan added. ‘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. i hope we can all celebrate together one day not too far away.
‘it has been such a hard year for so many people. at the start
of every season, the Premier league is the most important title for us. This is the one where you have to be there every three days, playing all your rivals home and away. only by being the very best, week in, week out, can you win this competition. It is a huge success.’
In a quirk of fate, yesterday was the second time under Guardiola that City have had a title confirmed by a United home defeat. West Brom won at old Trafford in 2017, a surprise result that sparked an impromptu night of revelling in Cheshire for the squad.
City now have the opportunity to make further history in the coming weeks against Chelsea in the European showpiece.