Manchester City’s stars partied the night away after landing an unprecedented fourth Premier League title in four years, with Jack Grealish leading the celebrations.
The fun started the moment the final whistle went at the Etihad stadium, a routine 3-1 victory over West Ham securing Blues supporters another landmark footballing achievement. It was City’s ninth straight victory since a goalless draw with the Gunners at the end of March that left them in third place behind the Londoners and Liverpool.
The party began early when their player of the season Phil Foden fired a shot into the top corner after less than two minutes and then doubled the advantage 16 minutes later.
READ NEXT: Boy, 17, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after stabbing on busy road
Mohammed Kudus briefly dampened the mood with a stunning overhead kick but Rodri himself, last season’s Champions League final match-winner, settled any nerves by driving in City’s third just before the hour.
Fans stormed the pitch, signalling the beginning of a party which lasted until at least 5am when a slightly worse-for wear Jack Grealish was pictured emerging from Fenix, a Greek restaurant just off Quay Street in Manchester city centre.
Pictures showed Grealish among the last to leave the venue at 4.45am. Erling Haaland and his girlfriend, wearing the striker’s winners medal, were pictured leaving at about 2.45am while Kevin De Bruyne and his partner called it a night at 3.50am.
The architect of City’s dominance over the last decade, Pep Guardiola, was pictured smiling when he finally left the party at 4.10am. Rodri, City’s midfield enforcer, was also pictured partying hard.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, in light of Jurgen Klopp’s departure from Liverpool. Guardiola has a contract until the end of next season, and on Friday confirmed he intends to honour that deal.
However, when asked about extending his stay after that, the Spaniard said: “The reality is I am closer to leaving than staying. It’s eight years, will be nine. Right now, my feeling is I am staying next season.
“We talk with the club, we have time to talk next season because I have to see the players as well. If they follow me, they follow us… for many reasons. I will stay. During the season we will talk.”
Guardiola signed his last contract extension during the World Cup 2022 break, his second extension signed in November in the middle of a season.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Manchester City’s title showdown against West Ham, Guardiola insisted that he plans to honour his contract, which expires next year. He said: “Yeah, I have a contract. I want to be here next season, yes.”
Since joining Manchester City in July 2016, Guardiola has enjoyed plenty of success. He’s helped the club win the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup, five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and two Community Shields.
Rodri was asked after City’s final day win over West Ham how his side maintain their hunger – with his answer a brutal reminder of what Arsenal lacked.
“To be honest, I think it’s in here [points to his head]. It’s the mentality,” he told Optus Sports. “[There are] great players all over the league, all over the clubs. Arsenal also they deserve [to win], they did an unbelievable season, but I think the difference was in here [points to head].
“When they came here, they faced us at the Etihad, I saw them and said: ‘Ah, these guys, they don’t want to beat us, they just want a draw.’ And that mentality, I don’t think we would do it the same way.
“And we caught them. At the end, if you give us one point, we will win the last seven, eight games even though it’s so tough. So I think [the title win] comes down to mentality.”
Expanding, Rodri says that Arsenal’s reaction to that draw made City ‘believe’ they could do it, but stressed that actually winning all their games was another matter altogether.
“The turning point was the weekend Liverpool lose at home to Crystal Palace and Arsenal to Aston Villa at home,” Guardiola said. “At that moment, okay [click click]. They give us a chance, they would not give us another chance, so we take it.
“The people say do it again, we did it again. Win a lot of games in a row to be champion. Really pleased for the way we compete all season. In the Champions League we didn’t lose one game all season but we are out, but the way we are out. We know we will lose games. You have to choose how to lose games, this defines the team. I like the way when we lose, because it happens.
“The exception is Aston Villa [away], they were better. Rarely when we lose we are not who we are. That makes me feel so proud, stable and good. After that the mentality, the club, we have in all departments. Put every game the important ones and we are able to do it.”
While City’s historic season is not yet over as they head to Wembley in the hope of becoming the first English side to win back-to-back domestic doubles. Only Manchester United stand in their way.