Manchester City fans eagerly awaited the final whistle at Etihad Stadium, not due to concerns over a last-minute comeback from West Ham, but to celebrate their team’s record fourth consecutive Premier League title under Pep Guardiola. A 3-1 victory confirmed their triumph, prompting fans to flood the pitch in celebration, with flares and the smell of sulphur filling the air as they danced, took selfies, and ignored pleas from stadium officials to return to their seats.
“It feels just as amazing as the first one. We worked so hard for it,” said City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. “It has been a tough battle with Arsenal and Liverpool this year, and you know to be here again doing something historic is amazing.”
This latest title marks City's sixth in seven seasons, further cementing Guardiola’s legacy at the club, where he has amassed 17 trophies since arriving in 2016. Guardiola has now won 38 trophies in his coaching career across Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and City, with the potential to add another when City faces Manchester United in the FA Cup final next week.
“Everyone in football is in awe of his (Guardiola’s) coaching but there is more to it than that,” said outgoing West Ham manager David Moyes. “Four in a row is incredible.”
City’s unprecedented success prompts debate about whether this team is the greatest in English soccer history. No other team has won four consecutive English top-flight titles, a feat unmatched during Liverpool’s dominance in the 1970s and 80s or Manchester United’s in the 1990s and 2000s.
“In terms of numbers, nobody has been better than us - the records, the goals, the points and four in a row,” Guardiola said. “If I land here tomorrow and you say I will win six Premier Leagues in seven years, I would say ‘Are you crazy?’ It’s impossible. We have done something unbelievable.”
Since being acquired by the Abu Dhabi ruling family in 2008, City has been among the wealthiest clubs in the world, with two Premier League titles already secured before Guardiola’s tenure. Under his leadership, City has become a dominant force, consistently overcoming challenges from rivals like Arsenal, United, and Liverpool. This season, Arsenal came closest, finishing two points behind City after a 2-1 victory over Everton in their final match.
Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, seems poised to challenge City in the coming years, especially now that Jurgen Klopp has stepped down at Liverpool. Meanwhile, Manchester United is expected to undergo further changes.
“We got the message from Mikel and his players. We have to make the right decisions in the next years because they are here to stay,” Guardiola said. “They are so young and have experience in the Champions League. For two years (they) were close.”
Guardiola’s future at City, with his contract running until the end of next season, along with the outcome of 115 charges of alleged financial misconduct against the club, could impact City's continued dominance. City denies any wrongdoing.
For now, City’s fans are reveling in their team's historic achievement, with the celebration just beginning.
