EPL champions Manchester City tough and technically brilliant

When Manchester City fell behind to Brighton, they never panicked and that is why they are champions.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, left, and manager Pep Guardiola show the Premier League trophy to supporters outside the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. Picture: AFP

When Manchester City fell behind to Brighton striker Glenn Murray’s header, they never panicked and that is why they are champions.

They knew Liverpool were leading against Wolves but City’s players believed implicitly in each other, in their abilities, in their manager, Pep Guardiola, and in his tactics and that is why they are champions again.

City responded with quiet defiance to pressure, just as they refused to surrender even when Liverpool were seven points clear in January. City stayed composed and imposed the qualities that make them such worthy champions: technical brilliance enhanced by a formidable will to win.

The history books will show that Sergio Aguero equalised within 90 seconds with a typically ruthless piece of finishing, Aymeric Laporte thundered in a header, Riyad Mahrez really got the party started with a fabulous driven third before Ilkay Gundogan’s magnificent free kick was the rich icing dripping off the victory cake.

The moment the title was confirmed with a shrill blast of Michael Oliver’s whistle, Aguero leapt into Vincent Kompany’s arms. City’s old guard had driven them on over these tense final days. When his team needed him most, Kompany unexpectedly popped one in from 25 yards against Leicester City last week. It is Kompany’s leadership on and off the field that inspires and when he was withdrawn from action with four minutes remaining, the Brighton fans stood to salute him. They can see class as a player and a person.

Sergio Aguero equalises for Manchester City against Brighton. Picture: Getty Images

Amid City’s wild celebrations, their fans sang in praise of Aguero, who scored his 21st goal to go with his eight assists in the Premier League. They knew how important he has been, especially that hat-trick against Arsenal on February 3, the perfect response to defeat away to Newcastle United five days earlier. Aguero’s goals dispelled any doubts, mocked the suggestion of pressure and launched them on a remarkable run of 14 wins on the spin.

As Aguero and Kompany embraced, loving their fourth title, Ederson knelt on his goalline, lifting his hands to the skies and prayed. Those hands have rescued City this season, not least here when repelling a Lewis Dunk free kick that would have made it 2-2 at the break. Ederson’s saves, as well as his celebrated distribution, have been another vital feature of City’s title-winning season.

In the technical area, Guardiola turned to his inner circle, to Mikel Arteta and Rodolfo Borrell, sharing this special moment, this instant when all their work was rewarded. They plotted this successful campaign together, starting early in the day, working late. Guardiola’s astonishing hunger levels, manifested in his suffering on the touchline, as well as his tactical innovations underpin a record of achieving back-to-back titles in Spain, Germany and England.

Yards away, Raheem Sterling pulled Mahrez towards him in celebration. This is the City way: personal ambition forgotten in a collective pursuit of excellence. When Mahrez arrived at City, Sterling did not grumble, he responded to the threat to his position, playing even better, working even harder, yet never showing any resentment.

This season, Sterling has scored 17 goals and made 10 assists. He is rightly the footballer of the year.

Mahrez played his part. Guardiola and his staff, and leaders like Kompany, have instilled such a robust esprit de corps that players do not complain about being left out. Mahrez has frequently been on the bench this season but he took his chance. His input again emphasised the genius of Guardiola, who surprised many in starting Mahrez here, but the Catalan knows his players, his opponents. One lone City fan, sitting in with the Brighton supporters, moaned intermittently for an hour, shouting: “Do something, Mahrez.” And he did. He expressed his quality. Guardiola’s judgment was again vindicated. The promotion of Mahrez into the starting XI highlighted the strength in depth that Guardiola has built here. City have funds in abundance but they invest wisely.

Mahrez’s goal was exquisite, one of the many reasons why the 3000 City fans were loving their day out at the seaside, why their team deserve this trophy, because of their relentless commitment to playing the game the right way, with boldness, with flair.

Mahrez sold Dunk a dummy and then finished from range with his supposedly weaker right foot. It was a goal of great beauty, the type that City have been conjuring up consistently and thrillingly in amassing 95 this season. They entertain, they keep attacking, even when the game is won. The lay-off from David Silva was so sweet and even if Merlin loses some of his powers, moments of magic remain. This was his eighth assist of the season.

As Aguero, Kompany, Sterling and Mahrez revelled in their achievement, the rest of the squad swarmed around, the players jumping up and down and chanting “champeones” with the supporters. The victors politely disappeared from view for 15 minutes as Brighton fans bade an emotional farewell to Bruno, their captain, who insisted: “Once a Seagull, always a Seagull.” As the fans said “adios”, technicians swiftly assembled the victory dais in front of the City fans.

Manchester City players celebrate with manager Pep Guardiola after clinching the English Premier League title with a 4-1 over Brighton. Picture: Getty Images

First out of the tunnel were City’s backroom staff, the medics, sports scientists and fitness gurus, the team behind the team. Even the chef got a name-check. This was deliberate by the club, making the point that they were all in it together, stars, supporters and support staff.

Many of these City fans stayed loyal through the lean times, making this age of glory even more appreciated. They cheered loudly as the first-team coaching staff strode out, including the ageless Brian Kidd, and then came Guardiola, the only one without the “Champions 19” shirt, probably because he was already preparing for “Champions 20”.

Many Brighton fans stayed on, applauding Guardiola, and his squad who followed merrily behind. The children of the Brighton players were mesmerised by the march of the champions and held their hands out to touch the City stars. Anthony Knockaert’s son rushed to join in and was gently guided back by Mahrez.

The announcer continued to scream out the names: Phil Foden, “he’s one of our own”. Cue more singing. John Stones was greeted wildly, one fan shouting: “Off the line,” remembering when a Stones clearance against Liverpool on January 3 saw the ball cannon into Ederson and loop backwards. Stones, responding athletically, somehow stretched out a leg and cleared off the line. Liverpool were 11 millimetres from a goal. Such tight margins decide titles. Without Stones’s intervention, Liverpool would have drawn instead of lost and the title narrative may have been different. Even though he has not played as regularly as he would want, Stones’s off-the-line moment was huge.

The last player out was the marvellous Kompany, hugging backroom staff he knows so well before stepping on to the victory platform to collect his winner’s medal. Kompany has been this way before but familiarity has not sated him. His eyes sparkled with delight at retaining the trophy. City have to offer him a year’s extension, not simply out of gratitude for epic services rendered but because his example continues to inspire all. He galvanises.

He hoisted the trophy, grabbed a magnum of champagne and led the mass singing of Wonderwall, accompanied yards away by Noel Gallagher: “Today is gonna be the day that they gonna throw it back to you.” Back-to-back to you.

Oleksandr Zinchenko was running around with a Ukraine flag wrapped around his waist, and he has helped out significantly, not only filling in the problem position of left back, but notably with his two assists against Chelsea on February 10. Zinchenko joined the merry rolling maul surrounding Guardiola and then giving their coach the bumps.

Bernardo Silva stood there laughing. He embodied City’s maturity in the maelstrom of the season. When the pressure mounted, City rose to the challenge and deserve to be acknowledged as one of the greatest sides in English league history.

THE TIMES