Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘Legends’ hailed after comeback
PEP Guardiola l auded Manchester City’s stars and title rivals Liverpool after yeste r d a y ’s breat h less comeback victory secured a fourth Premier League triumph in five years and sparked bedlam.
A decade on from Sergio Aguero sealing the crown in a jaw-dropping 3-2 final day win, a rocking Etihad Stadium witnessed similar drama just as the title appeared to be slipping out of their grasp.
Matty Cash and ex-Liverpool favourite Philippe Coutinho scored against stunned City, who knew the crown would head along the M62 to Anfield if Jurgen Klopp’s Reds eventually found a way to beat Wolves.
Liverpool ended up 3-1 victors but City by that point had launched an unforgettable fiveminute turnaround rendering that immaterial, with super sub Ilkay Gundogan scoring either side of Rodri’s strike in a 3-2 victory.
The Etihad Stadium had not seen such noise and drama since winning by the same scoreline against QPR a decade ago, leaving Guardiola beaming with pride and admiration.
“In the last five years winning four Premier Leagues, these guys are legends already,” Guardiola said.
“I’m sorry, people have to admit it.”
Asked how he masterminded such an unlikely turnaround, Guardiola joked that Real Madrid had given him some tips after flipping their Champions League semi-final against City on its head earlier in the month.
“Well, I called Real Madrid and they gave me good advice,” he said with a smile.
“This was the reason why. “Listen, no explanation Madrid, no explanation today.
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“It’s momentum.”
Guardiola arrived in the postmatch press conference nearly two hours after the final whistle.
But his delight at retaining the Premier League title came with an appreciation of title rivals Liverpool’s quality and the importance of May 22, which marked the five-year anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack.
“We want to dedicate (this win as) today’s the fifth anniversary of what happened in the Manchester Arena, when 22 people were killed,” he said at the start of the post-match press conference.
“The second one I want to congratulate Liverpool Football Club for this incredible battle for the last years, especially this one.”