LONDON (AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE) - Pep Guardiola said Manchester City's 2018/19 Premier League success was the toughest title triumph of his illustrious managerial career.
City came from behind to win 4-1 away to Brighton on the final day of the season on Sunday (May 12) - a result that meant the reigning champions finished just a point in front of second-placed Liverpool, who won 2-0 at home to Wolves.
In most seasons, Liverpool's tally of 97 points would have seen them crowned champions.
Guardiola, celebrating his eighth domestic championship in 10 seasons that have featured Spanish LaLiga and German Bundesliga titles with Barcelona and Bayern Munich respectively, was in no doubt about Liverpool's quality.
"We worked a lot," he said. "I have to say congratulations to Liverpool of course. Thank you so much. They helped to push us and to increase our standards from last season.
"To compete against this team pushed us to do what we have done. It's incredible, 198 points in two seasons."
"I think last season Manchester City made the standards," Guardiola added. "That is the level in the Premier League and Liverpool have helped us to be there all the time."
Â
Guardiola's side secured exactly 100 points in winning the title last season but the manager was arguably even more impressed by their efforts this term, even if the overall tally was lower.
"To win the title, we had to win 14 games in a row," he explained.
"For two to three months, we cannot lose one point and we did it all playing in all competitions until the semi-finals of the Champions League.
"It's incredible. Normally, if you get 100 points the tendency is to go down but Liverpool helped us to be consistent.
"This was the toughest title in all my career."
But Guardiola said next season could be even more competitive.
"It will be tougher, but we will be stronger, too," he said.
"When you can win two in a row I have the feeling that next season we will come back and try to be who we are right now."
Sunday's result meant Liverpool's wait for a maiden Premier League title - their last domestic championship was in 1990 - goes on, although they could yet win the Champions League if they beat Tottenham Hotspur when the English rivals meet in a Madrid final on June 1.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, whose 22 goals this season made him a joint-winner of the Premier League's Golden Boot award, said the Anfield club would challenge again next term.
"We lost only one (Premier League) game all season," the Egypt forward said.
"We gave everything. We got 97 points. We will fight next season for the title."
Ronaldo could face ex-team United in ICC S'pore. Published. 2 hours ago. This year's ICC in Singapore is set to take place at the National Stadium over the July 19-21 weekend and will feature
Football: Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo could face
Solskjaer aims for 3rd, Football News & Top Stories - The
Jul 01, 2018 · The Croatia-Denmark game, in Nizhny Novgorod, started with a stunning outburst, both sides scoring within the first four minutes. But the last 116 or so mostly had defensive play, plus plenty of
⠤⠤ Happy Playground - Croatia ⠤⠤ - Fairyland
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on March 17, 2019, with the headline 'Europa League hat-trick hero Giroud hoping for EPL chance'.
Europa League hat-trick hero Giroud hoping for EPL chance
Watford's Gray Strikes Late Winner to Spoil Rodgers' Leicester Debut Watford clinched victory in the second minute of added time as Troy Deeney latched on to a poor goal kick by Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel and fed substitute Gray who held his nerve to score.
Premier League: Leicester City 1-2 Watford: Gray's late
But then the rank insubordination from Kepa — however Chelsea may try to paint it. Alamy Live News Roman Abramovich, pictured at a performance of The Nutcracker in Moscow, has a choice to make over Maurizio Sarri's future Reuters Why wasn't senior defender David Luiz backing Maurizio Sarri in the Kepa Arrizabalaga sub row?
'How could he do that?' Maurizio Sarri's outburst at Kepa
Unai Emery urges Arsenal to focus on Valencia clash The 10-man Gunners slipped to a third straight defeat after the dominant Foxes ran out 3-0 winners. During Jose Mourinho's time in
Unai Emery urges Arsenal to focus on Valencia clash
Please like, subsrcibe and comment! This video is unavailable. Watch Queue Queue
Anthony Martial #11 News, Stats, Photos - Manchester United
United will attack PSG, vows Solskjaer, Football News & Top
Ozil leads five-star Arsenal past Bournemouth Mesut Ozil made the most of being handed a rare start by Arsenal boss Unai Emery as the German masterminded a 5-1 victory over Bournemouth on Wednesday to keep the Gunners in pole position for a top-four finish in the Premier League.
EPL: Ozil leads five-star Arsenal past Bournemouth - Punch
Investigators launched an underwater operation to recover the body that was found in the wreckage of the plane carrying footballer Argentine Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson."We are
UK rescuers launch bid to recover body from Sala's plane
Getty Images. Fifa president Gianni Infantino has said a potential joint Korean bid for the 2023 Women's World Cup "would be great". On Monday, Hong Myung-bo, general secretary at the Korea
Infantino backs Korean bid for women's World Cup, Football
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen