How did Manchester City triumph in a league where so many trend-setters feature?
What’s not to discuss about all the splendid memories this ‘thrilled with skills’ season had to offer?
England has been up on their feet throughout the year and not one expression of regret has been shown while crowning Manchester City champions – with the Citizens seeing off some wonderful opposition in the process.
Record breakers—@ManCity 🐬 pic.twitter.com/x4hGDharU3
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 13, 2018
But if taking up challenges is an art, undeniably the Sky Blues’ manager is the Pablo Picasso of it. In every league he’s been to, Pep makes some room, he settles, and eventually turns whatever he touches to gold. He proved himself to be the best yet again, outsmarting The Special One, who failed to conjure up a title challenge despite adding firepower to an already star-studded Manchester United – utilising the bulk of his budget to do so.
However, while the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez failed to deliver for Mourinho, City utilised their armada to the fullest. The sassy German Leroy Sanè and English speedster Raheem Sterling shone in almost every fixture they took part in. Subsequently, their success extended to Europe as Sterling managed to secure three Man of the Match awards in just five Champions League games.
Leroy Sanè, on the other hand, registered 27 goals this season, contributing his fair-share as a vital cog in what was undoubtedly the most dominant English side in recent history. With the World Cup also just around the corner, the two youngsters will be crucial to the success of their national sides if they can sustain their remarkable form.
Most assists in the 2017/18 Premier League season:
🔵 Kevin De Bruyne (16)
🔵 Leroy Sané (15)
🔵 David Silva (11)
🔵 Raheem Sterling (11)Kevin De Bruyne wins the first Playmaker Award in the last minute. 🎨 pic.twitter.com/fafwhH1VKt
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 13, 2018
Moreover, Kevin de Bruyne formed the spine of City’s title-winning side. Bagging 9 goals, 20 assists and the inaugural ‘Playmaker Award’, he added voice to his position as the Premier League’s best midfielder. Having achieved this milestone while competing against Tottenham’s Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Willian, and many other potential and proven beasts, his performances were anything but ordinary.
Even though the football world is going crazy over the team’s rampant displays in the offensive third of the pitch, 18 clean sheets in the EPL is no less than a dream come true for Ederson. The youngster has already been identified as one of the best goalkeepers in the world by many influential personalities, and is perfect for Pep’s preferred sweeper-keeper role.
As a whole, this team possesses the tools necessary to replicate their success next season – and the rest of English football’s titans will have a lot of catching up to do over the summer. Without signings to even-out the gulf in individual quality between Manchester City and their rivals, it’s hard to see anything keeping Guardiola from prolonging his side’s dominance.