What an amazing two years - the points totals, the consistency that builds those points, the way that Liverpool created very little room for error. We lost just 6 matches in two years - looking back through previous back to back winners - very few got close to that. It used to be that if you won your home matches you could afford to average one point per match away from home - there are teams from the past with better home records than City but I don't think anyone has a better away record. The standard we have set means you have to set out to win every match, accept that from time to time you will drop points but then set your mind to winning the next one.
The home win against Liverpool made the difference - an intense match where we matched their intensity and took our chances - Sane scored the winner, but it's Ageuro's wonderful goal that lives in the memory. The thrashing of Chelsea was perhaps our best performance - that first 20 minutes we were unplayable. Vinnies strike against Leicester may well be shown again and again as the title winning moment - a wonderful emotional moment - but the title was won in those scrappy awkward wins away at Burnley, Palace, Bournemouth etc and an uncompromising away draw at Liverpool - so glad that Mahrez can be celebrated for that goal today instead of scapegoated for the miss at Anfield.
I was one of those who said last year that to be regarded as a great team we had to win it again. We have - we join a small group of teams that have dominated their era by defending titles. Defending this one will put us onto a new level - and to do so we might have to do much the same again as we have done this year. Whether we can or not will depend on whether the team can play with the same intensity, whether the players coming in can add something new, whether Liverpool can repeat this years consistency or someone else (Tottenham? Chelsea?) can make the same improvements next season that Liverpool did this year - just 50 days until it all starts again!
The home win against Liverpool made the difference - an intense match where we matched their intensity and took our chances - Sane scored the winner, but it's Ageuro's wonderful goal that lives in the memory. The thrashing of Chelsea was perhaps our best performance - that first 20 minutes we were unplayable. Vinnies strike against Leicester may well be shown again and again as the title winning moment - a wonderful emotional moment - but the title was won in those scrappy awkward wins away at Burnley, Palace, Bournemouth etc and an uncompromising away draw at Liverpool - so glad that Mahrez can be celebrated for that goal today instead of scapegoated for the miss at Anfield.
I was one of those who said last year that to be regarded as a great team we had to win it again. We have - we join a small group of teams that have dominated their era by defending titles. Defending this one will put us onto a new level - and to do so we might have to do much the same again as we have done this year. Whether we can or not will depend on whether the team can play with the same intensity, whether the players coming in can add something new, whether Liverpool can repeat this years consistency or someone else (Tottenham? Chelsea?) can make the same improvements next season that Liverpool did this year - just 50 days until it all starts again!
