MAN CITY 1, CHELSEA 0
Manchester City partied long into the night after being presented with the Premier League title following their win against Chelsea.
It had been anticipated City would need to beat Chelsea to crowned champions for a third year in a row, only the fourth time it had been achieved in top-flight history.
Arsenal’s defeat at Nottingham Forest the previous day meant City became champions for a fifth time in six years, to match the exploits of Liverpool and Manchester United, without kicking a ball in anger.
It meant the game against Chelsea was somewhat anti-climatic as Pep Guardiola made nine changes from the side that beat Real Madrid four days earlier.
Julian Alvarez scored City’s winner, with City’s 100th goal of the season at the Etihad, equalling the top-flight record they set in 2018/18 and, incredibly, it is 34 more goals than any other side from Europe’s top five leagues.
The afternoon was more about the occasion than the game which was a shadow of the spectacle of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
City celebrated after recording a 12 straight league victory, the 15th time int has happened in top-flight history and Guardiola claims five of them.
This was also Guardiola’s 11th title in 14 seasons with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City, and the third time he has won three titles in a row, a remarkable record of consistency.
It was another defeat for Chelsea as this loss meant they will finish the season with their lowest points total in the Premier League era and the champions have accumulated more than double their points total.
Since Frank Lampard was appointed interim manager in the wake of Graham Potter’s sacking, Lampard has won only one of nine games as big-spending Chelsea languish in the bottom half of the table.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe day belonged to City and Guardiola described it as “very satisfying” and praised Arsenal for pushing them to their limits as his side needed a run of 12 straight league wins to land the title.
“I felt they had to drop points. They played exceptional football, but we did not give up,” he said.
Guardiola pointed to five titles in six seasons, six in 10 and seven in 12 as being exceptional but added to be considered one of the best they must win the Champions League.
City’s manager added he had been so demanding this season that the players will be given time to celebrate before regrouping for the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League.
“I have told the guys to be careful. We are a little bit tired mentally as it has been a long road,” he said.
Kyle Walker said: “We always believed we could do this. This group of lads are professionals and winners.
“Rest assured we are not finished. We have the FA Cup against our bitter rivals and then the Champions League.
“We will celebrate tonight and then move on to try and create history.
“The treble would be fantastic but there is a lot of football to be played.
“To say we are up there with one of the greatest Premier League teams of all time we have to conquer some of that.
“To go and achieve that we could then start talking about being one of the greatest teams in the Premier League.”
Erling Haaland started on the bench as Guardiola made nine changes to the side that thrashed Real Madrid on Wednesday with only Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji remaining from the midweek starting line-up.
But the strength of City’s bench – estimated at more than £475million – was ridiculous as it contained all their big-hitters.
Frank Lampard made five changes to the Chelsea side that drew 2-2 with Newcastle United with Kepa, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Cesar Azpilcueta, Kai Havertz and Wesley Fofana coming in.
Despite the much-changed line-up, City lost none of their fluency and rhythm as they started on the front foot.
And they were rewarded with a 12th minute opener from World Cup winner Alvarez.
Wesley Fofana gave the ball away as Cole Palmer threaded a through ball to Argentine Alvarez who slotted home a low shot from 10 yards, his 17th goal of the season for City.
Chelsea, completely outplayed for the opening half hour, almost drew level against the run of play.
Havertz’s through ball released former City player Raheem Sterling who can clean through only to see his shot well blocked by keeper Stefan Ortega.
Chelsea went close again not long after when Conor Gallagher’s far-post header from Lewis Hall’s cross struck the post.
The second half became something of an exhibition, lacking City’s usual intensity.
And before the hour, Guardiola made his first change as Akanji made way for Stones.
Almost immediately, City almost doubled their advantage when Phillips headed against the inside of the upright from a Mahrez free kick, but the ball rolled along the line and was cleared.
Chelsea enjoyed a productive spell as Lewis Hall and Sterling were denied by Ortega and Sterling then beat the keeper only to see Stones clear off the line, though the Chelsea striker had been flagged for offside.
City were denied a second following a VAR check which ruled Mahrez handled before he crossed for Alvarez to net.
Haaland made his entrance with 17 minutes left as he replaced Mahrez, and he was soon followed by Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri coming on for Sergio Gomez and Aymeric Laporte.
At the end there was the customary pitch invasion on such occasions, despite tannoy announcements warning fans not to enter the field of play, and once it was cleared it was time for the trophy presentation and the partying to begin.