Guardiola hails Manchester City ‘legends’ after Premier League title defense

MANCHESTER (Reuters) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hailed his players as “legends” after they won their fourth Premier League title in five years with a 3-2 comeback win over Aston Villa in Sunday’s final game.

City had trailed 2-0 and risked seeing the title slip out of its grasp before Ilkay Gundogan scored, Rodri equalized and then Germany midfielder Gundogan grabbed the winner in an incredible five-minute spell.

“Four Premier Leagues – these guys are legends already; people have to admit it. This group of players are absolutely eternal in this club because what we achieved is so difficult,” said the Spaniard.

“First one 100 points (in 2017/18), second one in Brighton (final day, 2018/19), the third without people and this one with people is the best,” he added.

City had crashed out of the Champions League with a semifinal loss to Real Madrid after conceding three goals within five minutes late in the second leg and Guardiola jokingly said that he had taken tips from the Spanish club.

“I called Real Madrid and they gave me good advice!” he said.

“No explanation in Madrid, no explanation today. It’s momentum. Sometimes it’s nice to live these kinds of situations. I have the feeling this will help us to be stronger next season,” he said.

“Maybe we need a little bit more time but every second that passes after this Premier League we realise that four Premier Leagues in five years in this country is probably the best achievement we have done in our careers. It is incredible,” he added.

The former Barcelona coach, who moves ahead of Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho who both had three Premier League title triumphs, showed some empathy for Liverpool, which finished second.

“Jurgen Klopp said a few days ago about the winners that there are few winners but a lot of triers. I love this concept. I’m a good trier. I’m going to say that Liverpool are losers? What they have done in the Premier League in the last few years when there was a team that was one inch better than them... but they are winners,” he said.

Not that Guardiola was going to deny that he felt worried when his team fell two goals behind.

“Of course a lot of thoughts, so difficult; always I had the feeling we needed a goal. This is the most difficult game to win – you have to close something that has taken 10 months. Serving to win Wimbledon is the most difficult, say the tennis players, and it was similar today,” he added.

The City boss said that the atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium had been the best he had experienced and he is clearly relishing Monday’s victory parade.

“Hopefully, we will celebrate with cigars and beer – I’ll bring my cigars, don’t worry.”

Klop: Premiership miss has

ramped up Liverpool’s Champions League desire Missing out on the Premier League title on the last day of the season has given Liverpool an extra edge heading into the Champions League final, Klopp said.

Liverpool came from behind to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 at Anfield but City hit back from 2-0 down to beat Aston Villa and clinch back-to-back titles.

Liverpool, which has already won the League Cup and FA Cup, could add a seventh European crown to its collection in the Champions League final against Real Madrid on Saturday.

“This season is absolutely incredible and will not end today, it ends next week obviously,” Klopp told reporters. “And there we will try absolutely everything.

“We have now five days to prepare the final, and that is what we will do.

“And of course, losing the league today increased the desire to put it right next week, it increased the desire.”

Klopp also congratulated Guardiola on winning their fourth Premier League title in five years.

“I am proud but I’m disappointed, of course, as well,” Klopp said. “There are maybe worse scenarios, if you would have been a point up and don’t make it, that might feel even worse.

“Congratulations to Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, all staff, all players, whole club, for being champions. We were close but in the end not close enough. That’s how it is.”

Liverpool faces the Spanish champions in Paris on May 28 in a rematch of the 2018 showpiece in Kiev, which Real Madrid won 3-1.