Like the Scotland fans at Wembley in 1977 they managed to break the crossbar in search of souvenirs. There was another pitch invasion with fans almost trampling over some City players who lay flat out on the turf in disbelief at the turnaround while others targeted the goal in which all three of City’s goals had been scored. Was it ever going to be straightforward? Not in this Premier League with Steven Gerrard leading Villa, and with Coutinho in their ranks, and with the pair looking like they were on a mission to at last win the league for Liverpool. If City had not already had their ‘Aguero moment’, 10 years earlier when they won their first Premier League title deep into stoppage time, then it would be this victory that would be first in their folklore.īut it will be up there, of course, as City eventually won by the same 3-2 scoreline and yet again affirmed the belief that despite their talent and apparent dominance this is not a club that does it the easy way. It also showed how close City were to throwing it away and the interminable recrimination and ridicule and anguish that would have invited having surrendered a 14-point lead over Liverpool. It showed how much it meant to even a coach who has won it all whose pre-eminence is rarely challenged. Well, at the final whistle there were tears before Guardiola turned and walked down the tunnel. It was over.īut then on 81 minutes when Ilkay Gundogan scored the winning goal to cap an amazing five-minute turnaround he cavorted like a young child, totally lost in the moment, wild in his celebrations. His deflated body language betrayed his feelings. On 69 minutes, when Philippe Coutinho put Villa 2-0 in front the City manager looked utterly bereft as he sank deep back in his seat. Maybe three remarkable images of Pep Guardiola will serve instead.
But that simple yet grand statement does not go anywhere near describing the despair, the delirium, the impossible to script drama of this extraordinary comeback against Aston Villa that ultimately delivered the title for the fourth season in the last five. Manchester City are the Premier League champions. Goals from Rodrigo and Gundogan (2) seal City's fourth Premier League title.City produce scintillating five minutes in thrilling comeback.Villa take two-goal lead at the Etihad, leaving Liverpool on verge of title glory.
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