Pep hails his players and title rivals after thrilling finale
Pep Guardiola lauded Manchester City’s stars and title rivals Liverpool after a breathless 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 witnessedsimilar drama just as the title appeared to be slip ping 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 welldrilled Wolves.
Liverpool ended up 3-1 victors but City by that point had launched an unforgettable five minute turn around, 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 ,” guardiol as aid.
“I’m sorry, people have to admit it. This group of players are absolutely eternal in this club because what we achieve is so difficult to do.
“Just Sir Alex Ferguson with United has done it years ago two or three times, now I realised again the magnitude of Sir Alex Ferguson and his United.”
Asked how he master minded 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. “Listen, no explanation in Madrid, no explanation today. It’s momentum.
“Sometimes it’s nice to live these kind of situations. We live it for the future. I had a feeling that it will help us to be stronger next season.
“Maybe we need a little bit more time but every second that passes after winning this Premier League, we realise that four leagues in five years in this country is probably the best achievement we have done in our careers.”
Thousands of fans ran on to the Etihad pitch in celebration at full-time.
“The atmosphere was the best I ever lived since I am here,” Guardiola said. “The last games against Newcastle and Real Madrid the Champions League at home was incredible, but today was so, so special.
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. “In this special day for us, we want to share it with all the families that suffered this terrible, terrible event.
“The second one I want to congratulate Liverpool Football Club for this incredible battle for the last years, especially this one. The magnitude of our achievement is related to the magnitude of this rival. Never ever I had a rival like Liverpool in my career. That makes me feel more proud about these players, this organisation because we know exactly which opponent we face. And we are incredibly happy.”