Whether you stumble slightly or greatly, it’s still a stumble. The magnitude of a situation doesn’t deter from the finality of it. They had the lead, multiple times. They lost/drew and gave it away, now on numerous occasions. The term bottling although derogatory still applies. No, it does not reduce our incredible years fighting with them, nor the fighting spirit we have shown. And certainly it does not take away from our achievements.
But to imply we have won only by our strength and not sometimes by being at the right place and the right time is childish and tribal at best. We are known for our late season form, and people expect us to pull 14-15 games on the trot, because, and hear me out here on this new ( not really ) piece of information, the whole club, psychology, physiology, stamina training and cyclic preparation is geared for it.
Villa game produced one of the all time greats at the Etihad, but we were 16 minutes away from watching them achieve the Quadruple. Never of the top of the table though on that day.
It has been a very long time now, that we have gained a league lead, retained and detached. Under Pep, i think we have done once or twice. And if we have won 5/6 more than half have been by chasing. If we achieve 6/7 which would be insane, it would be the same again.