Izuchukwu OkosiManchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, was bullish with his reaction to the club’s 2024/2025 campaign which he described as a successful one.
City won the Premier League title for four consecutive times but came short in the season that just ended on Sunday evening.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelLiverpool claimed their 20th league diadem to equal Manchester United for most league titles won.
The feat is their second in five seasons albeit they were unable to lift the trophy in front of their own fans in the summer of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking after City beat Fulham 2-0 to confirm a third place spot on the final day, Guardiola reminds critics of the challenges his team faced.
On securing Champions League qualification, the Spaniard said: “It’s like a title, (because of the obstacles). When you continue (a run of poor form) you finish 10th, 11th, 12th or 13th.
“This is the destiny of all the teams in the Premier League when they are in November, December or January and you cannot fight for the Premier League, like you have done for many years.
“People can say ‘I don’t want to fight again, just to qualify for the Europa League.’
“We continued playing good and we were there (in position to seal Champions League qualification) and we did it.
“At the end we finished third, not miles away from Arsenal, but the distance to Liverpool is huge. We have to improve and hopefully we can do it.”
City lost Ballon d’Or winner Rodri since September 2024 in a league game against Arsenal and a couple of other players in the course of the season.
Liverpool were officially handed the Premier League trophy on Sunday following their 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Anfield, while Arsenal beat Southampton 2-1 at the Saint Mary’s Stadium.
Chelsea finished behind City in fourth place while Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur make up the Champions League places.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
