GREAT PEP TAKES HIS TALLY TO SIX AND THE CITY
Foden double sets up more Guardiola glory
DEATH and taxes are the two guarantees in life. But now we can add a third one – Manchester City winning the Premier League title.
History was made at the Etihad, as Pep Guardiola’s men became the first team to win four titles on the spin.
It is now six in total for Guardiola since arriving in Manchester in 2016 – in the space of eight seasons.
Despite all his greatness, even Sir Alex Ferguson could not manage this across town with Manchester United.
And it is difficult to argue against this City side now being the greatest one of all time in English football.
Two seasons ago it took a staggering comeback against Aston Villa to seal the deal on this ground.
But there was no such madness in Manchester this time round.
Just the pure magic of Phil Foden to banish whatever nerves there might have been and inspire City to the most serene win possible, against a West Ham side who never stood a hope in hell of ruining the script.
It took City just 76 seconds to go ahead, thanks to a stunning strike from Foden.
The party had started in Manchester, while the wake was beginning in North London.
Jeremy Doku and Rodri both went close to doubling the lead, before Foden converted Doku’s cross to notch his second. It was his 14th goal in his last 14 league games.
The contest was not over after 18 minutes, because it had never been one.
But the coronation could start.
Wave after wave of light blue crashed towards the West Ham goal. City queued up to score more.
Even defender Manuel Akanji was trying his luck from long range. It was all a bit embarrassing.
And even when Mohammed Kudus pulled one back with a spectacular overhead kick before half-time, nothing was going to change.
Rodri made it 3-1 on the hour mark with a side-footed finish which Alphonse Areola should have saved – and that was that. Guardiola clenched both fists to celebrate. If he’d had a big fat cigar on him, he could have started smoking it.
City are still the kings of English football – and as long as Guardiola remains at the Etihad it is difficult to see who can knock him off his throne.
Arsenal gave it one heck of a go this season, and full credit to them.
But the champions have rattled off nine league wins on the spin to cross the line first and have not been beaten since losing at Aston Villa in the first week of December.
How City keep doing it, season after season, is one of the most wonderful mysteries of the domestic game.
The numbers surrounding this remarkable team are almost impossible to compute.
City have now gone 44 games unbeaten at home in all competitions, and are the only team not to lose in the league on home soil this season.
Rodri is now unbeaten in his last 74 games for City, winning 58 of them, while Erling Haaland has scored 63 goals in 66 league matches since signing.
So Guardiola has added another layer to his legacy.
What he’s now won would be more than enough for most managers, but he is not like the rest.
He will be back next season on another mission to do it all again – and good luck to all those who happen to get in his way.
MANCHESTER CITY (4-1-2-3): Ortega 7; Walker 8, Dias 7, Akanji 7 (Ake 71), Gvardiol 7; Rodri 7; De Bruyne 7, Silva 7; FODEN 9 (Kovacic 90), Haaland 6, Doku 8.
WEST HAM (5-4-1): Areola 7; Coufal 7, Zouma 6, Mavropanos 7, Cresswell 6, Emerson 6 (Alvarez 71); Ward-Prowse 5, Soucek 5, Paqueta 4 (Ings 86), Kudus 8; Antonio 6 (Earthy 81).
REFEREE: John Brooks 7.