Manchester City’s players returned to training on Wednesday after a few days of rest and recuperation during which they no doubt reflected on winning the Premier League title with five matches to spare.
As the players clocked in at their training ground they were greeted by Pep Guardiola, the manager who has guided them to their emphatic title success.
In what the Manchester Evening News describes as a “heartfelt speech”, the City boss hailed the squad’s achievement. It was their first reunion since winning the title by default on Sunday following Manchester United’s shock loss at home to WBA.
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“We could not celebrate together when we were champions because we were at home,” began Guardiola, addressing the players and backroom staff. “Big congratulations because we are the champions. We are the best in England. So for all my staff, the people here, the laundry, everybody, I would like you to feel part of that.
“Always you speak about the managers and the players but it’s impossible to achieve what we have achieved without your unbelievable effort.”
Turning to the players who have won 28 league matches already this season (not forgetting the league cup), Guardiola said: “You create something unique in the locker room, the spirit and your friendships. It’s impossible to achieve what you have achieved if you are not good human beings, if you are not good people, if you don’t accept one another.
“In the end what we have done is to be better than 19 teams. Nothing else… what has happened will always be in my heart until the last day of my life, I’m pretty sure of that. What I lived, what I felt this season, it’s something amazing.”
Guardiola’s next task is to refocus his players for the final five matches of the season. Having had their interest ended in both the FA Cup and Champions League, the Sky Blues can now channel all their energy into breaking Chelsea’s Premier League record of 30 wins in a season. To do that, City must win three of their remaining five matches. A good place to start would be at home to Swansea on Sunday.
A week later they travel to West Ham before hosting Huddersfield and Brighton. Their campaign then ends with a trip to Southampton on 13 May. As end-of-season run-ins go, they don’t come much easier. Surely only complacency will deny City a place in the record books.
Chelsea set the record of 95 points in 2004-05 but that’s not the only target in City’s sights. Man Utd hold the Premier League record for the biggest winning margin of 18 points, achieved in 1999-2000. Given that City lead United (who have only four matches to play) by 16 points they could well set a new record.
