Manchester City’s record of winning the Premier League is simply mind-boggling. In December, they were 14 points clear of Liverpool, who only dropped to second place in the last few weeks. City had not lost in the league since October, and have not suffered a defeat at the Etihad Stadium since opening day against Tottenham. It was widely expected that the club would sign Tottenham striker Harry Kane, but they refused to match Spurs’ asking price.
Guardiola’s genius
Pep Guardiola’s genius has helped Manchester City win two Premier League titles. The Spaniard has addressed City’s problems with momentum and talent, while building their success. But will Guardiola be enough to convince the chiefs at Manchester United to hire him instead of Jose Mourinho? Only time will tell. But for now, he has earned his keep. After all, he’s still the most expensive manager in English football.
Defeating the reigning Premier League champions Liverpool is no easy feat. The margin of victory between the teams is so small that the game could have been a draw. The difference between the two teams was a point in October, when Rodri’s sleeve denied Everton a late penalty. Liverpool argued that the referee blew the penalty, and the final result was the same. Manchester City had a slow start to the season, but their run of wins over the winter months made them champions.
De Bruyne’s form
Kevin De Bruyne is a Belgian soccer player who is vice-captain of Manchester City and plays for the Belgium national team. He is considered to be one of the best players in the world and has won 13 domestic trophies. His three Premier League titles and four EFL Cups have also earned him the title of Footballer of the Season.
Manchester City won the Premier League title despite Kevin De Bruyne missing the last part of the 2018/19 season due to injury, but he has since played an important role in the club’s domestic treble. He featured in a 6-0 demolition of Watford in the FA Cup final, scoring and assisting two goals. During the current season, he has tallied 13 goals and 20 assists, equaling Thierry Henry’s record of 20 assists in a season.
Guardiola’s character
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side beat Liverpool by four goals to win the Premier League. In the first leg, City had a 14-point lead at the end of the first half, but Liverpool threw the game away to drop below them in the final weeks of the season. Since then, City haven’t lost in the league and their record at the Etihad Stadium is a remarkable feat. Only two defeats, to Chelsea and Southampton, have been by a team other than Liverpool. Guardiola praised the team’s character and their ability to win in the absence of an attacking player.
Guardiola’s side was at their best at Selhurst Park, and their relentless passing and pressure proved to be a deadly combination. While Raheem Sterling missed a clear sitter in the opening half, he erased any doubts with an excellent late goal. The striker latched onto Kevin De Bruyne’s through ball and smashed the ball into the top corner.
Guardiola’s financial might
While the Premier League champions have spent over half as much on transfers as their opponents, Guardiola’s financial might was enough to defeat Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals. Liverpool has spent just over half that amount on transfers in the last five years, so it is clear who has spent more. Guardiola’s financial might was enough to convince Tottenham to sell their star striker Harry Kane, but Liverpool had a stronger squad in terms of quality.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been involved with Financial Fair Play for many years, and the club has made a few digs at Real Madrid in the process. However, he was quick to congratulate his teammate Mo Salah when he was named the Football Writers’ Association’s Player of the Year last month. Guardiola also made a reference to City’s Financial Fair Play ban while speaking at the post-match press conference.
Harry Kane’s influence
Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-2 win over Man City blew the title race wide open and gave Liverpool a huge boost. Spurs had led twice in the first half and scored a late penalty, while Riyad Mahrez’s header from a corner put Tottenham 3-2 up. Spurs have a good team, but Kane’s two goals against City have raised the bar significantly.
In the summer, Manchester City bought Tottenham hot-shot striker Jack Grealish for PS100 million, replacing the injured Sergio Aguero. Both players have barely contributed to City’s title win and Kane was supposed to be the key to preserving their position at the top. However, the Tottenham attacker’s absence will make things tougher for the team. City will have to hope for a better season ahead without Kane, but the loss of the English superstar will surely hurt the team.
Jurgen Klopp’s treatment of City players
In January, Manchester and Liverpool played each other at Anfield and Man City won 3-0, with the champions amassing a record 100 points. Liverpool, who had never tasted defeat in English football, had been expected to fall to City but failed to match their bid, allowing them to win the Premier League title. However, their performance in the semi-final against Real Madrid prompted many to speculate that they would lose to Liverpool, despite being the league leaders.
The final game of the season was crucial to the title race. Both teams had been looking unbeatable, until Liverpool struck first blood in the FA Cup semi-final, and came back from behind to draw against Pep Guardiola’s technicians. However, they finally managed to beat their arch-rivals, with a penalty shootout against substitute goalkeeper Zack Steffen.
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