THE VERDICT: SOUTHAMPTON 0 CITY 1
IF Arsenal are the Invincibles, maybe City will go down in history as the Untouchables?
Forget this final game of the season, a snooze in the south coast sun, made memorable only by Gabriel Jesus’ brilliant late, late winner.
That took the Blues to 100 points, extending their own record – and also hoovering up the biggest winning margin in history (19 points).
The City fans were in carnival mood at one end of the ground throughout, and for once it was not that they were drunk on the champagne football that their team played.
Indeed, the fizz had – understandably – gone a bit flat at the end of a long, tiring season, with players already eyeing the World Cup.
Jesus shook it all up again by chasing Kevin de Bruyne’s astute over-the-top pass and lobbing expertly over Alex McCarthy before celebrating with the ecstatic fans.
That put a fittingly magnificent ending on a quite astonishing season – in fact THE outstanding league season of any team in history. Arsenal fans will claim that their 2004 Invincibles still hold that honour, having gone the whole season unbeaten, a fabulous achievement in itself. But the fact is that the Invincibles chalked up TEN points fewer than Blues, scored 33 goals fewer and City only conceded one more. The Blues also won an amazing SIX games more. Arsenal’s achievement is rightly lauded – but the fact is that it pales in comparison alongside what City have done this season. Avoiding defeat is a bit Mourinhoesque, and the Gunners drew eight games that season. City have gone out to win games, and done so in breathtaking style. Even in this game, when they were at half-throttle for most of the game, they conjured up something special right at the end. There was a lack of drama in the game after Mark Hughes’ Southampton grabbed a midweek win which meant only a calamity on the final day could send them down. But the exBlues boss set his team up Stuart Brennan None Jesus (90) 30% 70% 13 12 8 1 Soares, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse Jesus Andre Marriner 31,882 to frustrate and try to break on City, and for 90 minutes plus a couple added on, it worked.
City cruised through the first half in warm conditions, and maybe that was part of the plan, as they noticeably stepped it up after the break.
The introduction of Jesus gave them a little extra spice in the final third, as well, and Raheem Sterling struck a post and John Stones flashed a header over.
Just when it seemed both teams were content with a point, De Bruyne’s lob sent Jesus clear and with two defenders snapping at his heels, the controlled lobbed finish was exquisite.