MAN CITY 3, ASTON VILLA 2
Manchester City claimed their fourth Premier League title in five years in a manner which mirrored their epic 2012 triumph when Sergio Aguero scored the championship clinching goal in 93min 20sec.
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In boxing parlance, City had to haul themselves off the canvas after Aston Villa were 2-0 ahead with 15 minutes left with the title seemingly heading to Liverpool who beat Wolves.
Goals from Matty Cash and Philippe Coutinho had looked set to land a knockout blow, a monumental upset on the final day of the campaign
But in an amazing turnabout, City scored three times in a dramatic five minutes as the despair of fans suddenly became delight as they snatched the title from the jaws of defeat.
And it was City’s substitutes who played a pivotal part on the remarkable fightback as Ilkay Gundogan came off the bench to score twice while Oleksandr Zinchenko, another replacement, provided the assist the Rodri, the other goalscorer.
The scale of the achievement was underlined by the statistic that this was the first time since 2005 that City had won a game from being two or more goals behind.
And all four of their titles under Guardiola have been clinched on the final day of the campaign.
The championship continued Pep Guardiola’s amazing run of success, a 10th title in the last 13 years in Spain, Germany and England.
Guardiola, who dedicated the title win to the 22 victims on the fifth anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing, admitted: “We were closer to losing today than winning the Premier League.
Embed from Getty Images“Congratulations to Liverpool after the most incredible battle. I have never had a rival like Liverpool, and it makes me more proud of these players and this organisation because of the job we faced.
“When we were 2-0 down it was so difficult. It was like serving to win Wimbledon which players often say is difficult to do.
“The only concern when it was 2-0 was we needed to score soon. We were fortunate and lucky to score the second goal so quickly then had 12/15 minutes to get the winner as the momentum was with us.”
Guardiola admitted there was tension in the build up to the game.
“I felt the pressure and, though we trained incredibly, you could smell it,” he said.
But he believes what happened will make them stronger for next season.”
Guardiola also praised Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool for pushing City to greater heights.
“To win four Premier Leagues is five seasons in this country is probably the best achievements in our careers.
“Jurgen Klopp said there are few winners and lots of triers which I like. Liverpool and ourselves have done it in the last five years.
“Liverpool are losers but what we have seen is one side which is one inch better and they are the winners.
“We are legends. When you win the Premier League in this country four times in five seasons, it is because these guys are so, so special. We will be remembered.
“Winning at home in front of our people is the best. The moment we equalised we had the feeling we had the chance to score the third.
“The magnitude of the achievement is related to magnitude of our rival, and I have never seen a team like Liverpool in my life. Congatulations to Liverpool – they have made us better and better each week.
“I don’t have the energy or desire to think about next season now. We are champions again.”
Bernardo Silva added: “It’s not easy, there was a bit of disbelief and we still had to believe in the turnaround.
“I’m so happy, and the way it was makes it a little bit better but let’s not try to repeat that.
“When you beat a team as good as Liverpool, it feels better. We have won it the last few years against top, top teams.
“But once again we are the best team in England and next year we will try to come back and give a bit more to the fans.”
There was even praise from former United player turned pundit Gary Neville who said: “Incredible football season. Congratulations Man City, congratulations Liverpool. Head-to-head all the way through, relentless, brilliant.
“You won’t get many better Premier League seasons than that.
And Roy Keane, another former Red, added top players find a way to win.
“A hell of a title race. Man City, for 75 minutes you couldn’t believe what you were witnessing in the stadium, it felt like it was over but suddenly they pulled three goals out of the hat.
Guardiola made two changes to the side that started last week’s draw at West Ham, with John Stones and Phil Foden coming in for Zinchenko and Jack Grealish.
Villa showed two changes from Thursday’s home draw against Burnley with goalkeeper Robin Olsen in for Emiliano Martínez due to a knee injury, and Philippe Coutinho replacing Carney Chukwuemeka.
City had an early chance to take the lead when Gabriel Jesus charged down a clearance from Olsen and the ricochet flew wide.
Guardiola’s side was struggling to find its usual rhythm and fluency against a well-organised Villa, though Foden fired narrowly wide.
The home fans were silenced when Villa snatched a 37th minute lead.
Lucas Digne fired over a cross from the left for right back Cash to head home from six yards, though Ederson got a glove to the ball.
As the home fans became edgy, that translated on to the pitch with the City players nervous and anxious.
And it might have got worse for City just before the break when Ollie Watkins broke clear of Fernandinho and bore down on goal only for John Stones to save the day with a timely tackle as the striker ought perhaps to have shot sooner.
City made a change at the break as Zinchenko replaced Fernandinho, making his final appearance after nine years at the club, with Stones switching from right back to centre back.
There was a succession of chances for City at the start of the second half as De Bruyne, Jesus and Rodri all failed to hit the target.
Watkins had a glorious chance to make it 2-0, bursting clear from halfway only to shoot wide with the goal at his mercy.
Guardiola made a second change in the 56th minute, Raheem Sterling replacing Riyad Mahrez.
City’s third switch with 22 minutes left saw Ilkay Gundogan take over from Bernardo Silva.
It was immediately followed by Villa doubling their lead. Olsen’s long clearance was headed on by Watkins to Coutinho who cut inside Aymeric Laporte before firing home a low shot. It his fifth goal in seven Premier League games against City, and it looked a long way back for City.
Two of City’s substitutes combined for the 76th minute goal which handed them a lifeline as Sterling’s right-wing cross was headed home at the far post by Gundogan.
And less than two minutes City were level as Zinchenko cut the ball back to Rodri to find the bottom corner with a low drive.
The comeback was completed in the 81st minute when De Bruyne’s low cross from the right was turned home at the far post by Gundogan.
In the latter stages, City’s game management was exemplary as they held on to their lead as news filtered through that Liverpool had secured victory against Wolves with two late goals.
And despite extra stewards and pleas not to enter the pitch, the final whistle was followed by thousands streaming on to the field.
Sadly, there was a repeat of the ugly scenes witnessed in recent games following pitch invasions as Villa goalkeeper Olsen was assaulted when fans came onto the pitch.
City apologised in a statement, adding: “The club has launched an immediate investigation and once identified, the individual responsible will be issued with an indefinite stadium ban.”