City bring up their century in a season of broken records
That emotional peak in 2012 of clinching a first league title for 44 years may never be matched but, with Mark Hughes looking on from the opposing dugout as he did with QPR, Manchester City once again waited until their last meaningful kick of the season to write a page of English football history.
Arsene Wenger had the ‘Invincibles’ and Pep Guardiola now has the equally unique ‘Centurions’ who, thanks to substitute Gabriel Jesus’s stoppage-time goal, completed their near-flawless season in appropriately perfect fashion with a win that got them to exactly 100 points.
The ecstatic reaction from the City players and staff told you what it meant, with Guardiola himself seemingly in shock at an achievement that he ranks with anything that he oversaw at Barcelona or Bayern Munich.
Guardiola does not expect this feat to ever be matched but, frighteningly, still predicts an improvement next season from a Manchester City team who have set more Premier League records this season than yesterday’s opponents, Southampton, have won matches.
“I still cannot believe it,” said Guardiola. “It will be ridiculous to overcome what we have done this season. We cannot be better in terms of numbers but, in terms of playing football, yes.”
Asked how that could be possible, Guardiola specifically noted how his team had fashioned only two shots on target at St Mary’s.
A further complication could come if his assistant Mikel Arteta does indeed get offered the chance to succeed Wenger at Arsenal.
Arteta, Massimiliano Allegri and Patrick Vieira are all on Arsenal’s shortlist of candidates and Guardiola, who himself said yesterday that he would one day “dream” of managing at a major international tournament, said that he would not attempt to stop his friend from taking such an opportunity.
“Mikel’s contribution has been outstanding, amazing,” said Guardiola. “If he stays, I will be the happiest guy in the world. If he decides to go, I will be so sad, but I will understand his decision.”
City will surely use their financial power to capitalise on this moment in the transfer market, and the overall stability in Guardiola’s squad was also further enhanced Mark Hughes will hold talks imminently with Southampton’s directors about his managerial future, but would “love” to continue the progress he has overseen during the past two months.
Hughes was brought in on a contract until the end of the season with the specific target of keeping the club in the Premier League, and he now hopes to be offered the job permanently.
“I have been able to make an impact,” he said. “I’m a professional football manager and I would love the opportunity [to continue].
“Coming here was a risk in terms of reputation damage if it went wrong but the credit all lies with the players and supporters.” yesterday when it was confirmed that goalkeeper Ederson had signed a contract extension until 2025 that will upgrade his £30,000-a-week wages.
Guardiola opted to start Claudio Bravo for this final Premier League game, and he was soon the busier of the two goalkeepers.
Jack Stephens forced an early save from Bravo, before Wesley Hoedt headed Dusan Tadic’s corner against the crossbar. Hoedt then drifted into space from another dead-ball position, but could only shoot into the side netting.
Half-time news that Swansea had fallen behind against Stoke ensured that any flicker of concern inside St Mary’s at a comeback in the relegation battle had quickly evaporated, but Southampton still retained their intensity.
After breaking clear to dribble the ball around Bravo, Tadic was only denied by Fernandinho’s superb goal-line clearance.
Raheem Sterling had earlier struck a post and, when Guardiola opted to bring on Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz to ensure these two young City players would make five appearances, and so receive a Premier League winner’s medal, a final twist seemed unlikely.
Then Kevin De Bruyne delivered one final moment of brilliance. His weighted pass caught Southampton square and Jesus lifted his finish over Alex Mccarthy.
It also ensured one final record that perhaps best summed up the attacking nature of City’s dominance this season. De Bruyne’s pass meant that he had made more assists this season than any other Premier League player, but the next three names on the list – Leroy Sane, David Silva and Sterling – are all team-mates in this City squad.