Manchester City have solidified their position as the greatest team in English football history by securing their fourth consecutive Premier League title, a feat that has never been achieved before.
Under the leadership of Pep Guardiola, City has maintained an unprecedented stranglehold over the top flight of English football. In addition to their six Premier League titles, City has also triumphed as world and European champions for the first time in the club’s history, won two FA Cups, and lifted four League Cups in the past seven years.
Their dominance over their rivals, Manchester United, is particularly satisfying for City fans who have long lived in their shadow. Last season, Guardiola’s team became only the second club to win the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in a single season, matching the achievements of United’s legendary squad in 1998/99.
United themselves enjoyed a period of dominance with seven Premier League titles in nine years under the management of Alex Ferguson. Liverpool’s reign in the 1970s and 1980s saw them claim 10 league titles in 15 seasons and four European Cups.
Arsenal’s “Invincibles” of the 2003/04 season, led by Arsene Wenger, went unbeaten throughout the entire league campaign, making a strong case for their status as the best team ever.
City’s dominance over their rivals is evident, surpassing even the achievements of United, Liverpool, and Arsenal during their peak years, despite the vast resources available in the world’s wealthiest league.
City has now gone 35 matches unbeaten in all competitions from open play, setting a new record in the Premier League era. Their recent 3-1 victory over West Ham secured the title, pushing them past 90 points for the fourth time in seven seasons – a feat United only accomplished twice during Ferguson’s tenure at Old Trafford in a 38-game season.
Phil Foden, City’s midfielder, highlighted the significance of winning the Premier League four times, a feat no other team has achieved before. This accomplishment solidifies City’s place among England’s greatest teams.
In recent years, City faced tough competition from Liverpool, who interrupted their dominance by winning the 2019/20 title, and Arsenal, who finished just two points behind the champions this season.
Despite Liverpool’s 97 points in 2018/19 and 92 points two years ago, they still fell short of the title due to City’s relentless performance. This season, Arsenal’s club-record 28 wins and 89 points were not enough to secure their first title in 20 years.
Guardiola recently reflected on the possibility of winning four consecutive titles, stating that at the beginning of the season, it wasn’t something they had considered. However, as the months went by and they remained in the title race, it ignited a determination within the team.
Guardiola acknowledged the difficulty of achieving such a feat, highlighting that even successful teams like Liverpool in the 1980s, Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in the 1990s, Chelsea under Abramovich and Mourinho, and Arsenal under Wenger were unable to accomplish it.
While City has received praise for their performances on the pitch, there are certain caveats attached to it. The ongoing case against the club, involving 115 charges related to alleged breaches of financial rules, has been unresolved for 15 months. City vehemently deny any wrongdoing but face accusations of providing inaccurate financial information and not cooperating with the Premier League’s investigation.
The club’s wealth, stemming from the takeover by Sheikh Mansour of Abu Dhabi, has also dampened the enthusiasm of some towards their remarkable success. Guardiola expressed uncertainty about whether his team receives the credit they deserve for their historic achievements, but he remains aware of their own capabilities and the quality they have displayed.