Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City became the first team in English top-flight history to win four league titles in a row after a comfortable win over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium. City knew only a win would do on the final day as Arsenal were hot on their heels right till the final round of fixtures.
But a brace from Phil Foden and a 2nd half-strike from Rodri made sure that Manchester City got comfortably over the line and lifted the Premier League crown yet again.
Manchester City last tasted defeat at the hands of Aston Villa in December and since they have put on a 23-game unbeaten run winning 19 and drawing 4. As their rivals Arsenal and Liverpool kept dropping points in crucial games, Manchester City once again turned up the heat from Christmas and went undefeated right until the final day. The return of Kevin De Bruyne from the injury on New Year had a significant impact in the Manchester City’s title run and Erling Halaand once again proved his hefty price tag by scoring 27 goals in the season, hence winning the Golden Boot.
Pep Guardiola’s side in the history books
This is Manchester City’s sixth title in seven seasons and their fourth title in a row which is a feat that no one has ever achieved in the English top flight’s 136 years history. Last year they equalled the record of Huddersfield Town (1924-1926), Arsenal (1933-1935), Liverpool (1982-1984) and Manchester United, who did it twice (1999-2001) & (2007-2009) in winning 3 league titles in a row.
This season they went one better by winning the fourth title making them the first team to achieve the feat. In 2017-18 Manchester City were the first team to achieve 100 points in the league season which also is a record that no side has broken or equalled till date.
Pep Guardiola among Premier League greats, but is he on Sir Alex Ferguson’s level?
Manchester City’s fourth Premier League title in a row has certainly raised a question about the greatest manager of all time in the Premier League, the honour which many believe goes to Sir Alex Ferguson. However, Pep has done something that even Sir Alex could not achieve in his time at Old Trafford which is to win four league titles in a row.
A point well worth noting is the fact that whenever the title has been up for grabs on the final day Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have always come out on top and lifted the crown which is something we cannot say about Sir Alex.
The most memorable example is the 2011-12 season when United had an 8-point lead in April but somehow managed to throw the title away which was eventually won by neighbours Man City on the final day. In the 1997-98 season, United had a 13-point lead over Arsenal in December but dropped points in nine of their last 18 games as the Gunners reeled them in and won the title.
However, Ferguson has 13 league titles to his name and Guardiola has six, which shows the enormous gap the Spaniard has to bridge. It may not be possible since Guardiola is leaving City at the end of the next season.
But with him becoming the second most successful top-flight manager in English history and the records City have set, Guardiola will go down as one of the greatest to do it in England.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
