Pep Guardiola and club captain Fernandinho have reacted after Manchester City were crowned Premier League Champions for the fifth time in ten years.
Tonight’s win for Leicester City at Manchester United meant that City hold a ten point lead over their rivals with only 9 points left to play for.
And in the modern era, in the ten years since City lifted the 2011 FA Cup, the latest Premier League title is City’s 16th domestic honour in that time.
It’s the third time that City have lifted the Premier League and League Cup in the same season and City have continued to set records.
They set a new domestic record for consecutive wins across all competitions [21] and are still on an English top-flight record streak of 19 straight away wins.
And City became the first team in Premier League history to lift the title after being as low as 8th in the table on Christmas Day, and the first in the top flight since Liverpool in 1981/82, who were 12th at Christmas.
For manager Pep Guardiola this his third Premier League title in four years and his 10th piece of silverware since moving to Manchester in 2016.
And he could be leading City to an 11th title under his leadership on May 29 after City qualified for the UEFA Champions League final with a 4-1 aggregate win over Paris St Germain.
On his latest title win, Guardiola, said: “This has been a season and a Premier League title like no other.
“This was the hardest one. We will always remember this season for the way that we won.
“I am so proud to be the manager here and of this group of players.
“They are so special. To come through this season – with all the restrictions and difficulties we’ve faced – and show the consistency we have is remarkable.
“It is relentless. Every single day, they are there, fighting for success, trying always to be better. They have been so, so resilient.
“That is equally true of each and every member of our backroom staff, who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that our players are fully equipped to take on the unexpected challenges and new routines throughout such a turbulent year.
“Not forgetting, of course, all of the staff across our organisation who work to make this club the success it is.
“Whether that’s been from the offices at the City Football Academy or working from home, the efforts of every employee in such trying circumstances have contributed to this achievement.
“At the start of every season, the Premier League is the most important title for us.
“This is the one where you have to be there every three days, playing all your rivals home and away. Only by being the very best, week in week out, can you win this competition. It is a huge success.
“It is so important to say a huge thank to all our fans.
“In our toughest moments, we couldn’t hear the crowd get behind us as usual, but we know they are with us everywhere we go and that has lifted us. I promise them we sense their love, we appreciate it and we could not have done what we have done without it.
I hope we can all celebrate together one day not too far away. It has been such a hard year for so many people.
This one is really for our fans and for Colin Bell and all his family.”
City captain, Fernandinho, added: “I am so proud and so happy with what we have achieved.
“The Premier League is the hardest league in world football – every single game is tough.
“To win it again means the world to me and the rest of the squad.
“To captain this team is an honour and a privilege because the players have given their all throughout season, whether in training or in matches.
“The teamwork has been amazing.
“Football is everything to us and we strive every single day to be as good as we can be in the hope we can bring success to Manchester City.
“Winning the Premier League title is the ultimate fulfilment of our ambitions. It’s what we all dreamed of as young players, so to do it is a wonderful feeling.
“We have missed the fans so much. We wanted to do this for them.
“We will enjoy this moment and we hope the fans do too. Rest assured we will continue to do everything we can to bring the Champions League home this season.”