Daily Mirror

Premier class: Man City take title

Pep knew City would win crown when they beat Chelsea in September... now he challenges his champions to dominate Prem for years to come

- BY JOHN CROSS

WINNERS Man City’s Vincent Kompany celebrates and, from the left, victories for Newcastle, Wolves and West Brom

MAN City skipper Vincent Kompany celebrates winning the Premier League – with Man United-supporting in-laws.

He punched the air after West Brom striker Jay Rodriguez sealed a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, surrounded by wife Carla’s family – although she has always been a Blue.

After sharing a reluctant hug, Kompany, 32, said: “My father-in-law is a better winner than a loser... but it’s all banter and he was gracious about it and he was happy for the family. It was a great day.”

Carla’s nan even asked if Vincent wanted to invite the team round to celebrate.

PEP GUARDIOLA has pinpointed the day he knew Manchester City would win the title – and has now challenged his players to dominate for years to come.

The Blues boss says he knew the squad had come of age after winning at Chelsea on September 30, when they overcame last season’s champions. After Manchester United’s shock 1-0 home defeat to West Brom handed Guardiola the big prize yesterday, he insisted the next step would be to make sure City go on to join the giants of the game. He said: “I think winning at Stamford Bridge gave us the confidence that we could do it. Because last season, against other contenders, we were not

so good. We won few games. But winning at Stamford Bridge gave us a feeling of, ‘OK, against the last champions, we are able to come here and play’. But in general we were so, so stable.

“And Sergio Aguero (above) is a genius, a top player about 30 years old, but the other guys are 20, 21 years old, so we won with guys so young.

“Playing in the Champions League at that age, sometimes it is complicate­d. But maybe it will be a lesson for the future for them.

“You cannot deny that we were good this season. Every single day. To make 18 games in a row winning, you have to be mentally strong.

“That is important to build up the club. It is important to believe because Manchester City is not like United or Chelsea or Arsenal – you know, the big clubs in England, who have a big history behind them.

“So sometimes you have to do these kinds of things to think, ‘Wow, we are good. We are good too, like the other ones’. And maybe that helps us. That is the target. Of course, it’s not going to happen next season the same – it’s impossible.

“But the more years you are here, you learn more. Last season, generally, we were not bad, but we were not good enough.

“But the club made an investment on players and that is the difference. We are here and it is only possible because we have these incredible players.”

 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ?? THE NEW GUARD... City became champions as Jay Rodriquez (inset, top) got a shock winner for West Brom, which Vincent Kompany saw alongside a diehard Red (inset, centre), while Guardiola was enjoying a round of golf
THE NEW GUARD... City became champions as Jay Rodriquez (inset, top) got a shock winner for West Brom, which Vincent Kompany saw alongside a diehard Red (inset, centre), while Guardiola was enjoying a round of golf

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom