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Manchester City celebrated their Premier League title triumph with a 1-0 win against Chelsea on Sunday. Julian Alvarez’s 12th-minute goal secured a 12th successive league win for Pep Guardiola’s side as fans invaded the pitch after the final whistle and tasted victory.
It was the third title in a row for City and the fifth in six seasons for the team that dominated English football. And it could be the start of a historic treble of trophies this time around, with the Champions League and FA Cup finals yet to come. “We always believed we could do this. This group of boys are professionals and winners,” said guard Kyle Walker. To try and make history.
Good night! , pic.twitter.com/T37ansa5BR– Manchester City (@ManCity) May 21, 2023
Arsenal’s 1–0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday meant City were confirmed ahead of their final home match of the campaign. This meant Guardiola could name Erling Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne, Rodri, John Stones and Ederson on the bench. But even in his absence, City won with a decisive goal from World Cup winner Álvarez.
The Argentina international has been overshadowed by Haaland’s record-breaking exploits, but he showed his quality with a clinical finish after controlling Cole Palmer’s pass. City never looked to quite touch the heights of recent tours of Liverpool, Arsenal and Real Madrid – but after Alvarez’s goal it certainly didn’t need to start to win.
Chelsea had several chances, particularly through Raheem Sterling, and Conor Gallagher could have equalized when he hit the post with a first-half header. Calvin Phillips also hit the woodwork for City after the break and Alvarez saw his second goal disallowed by VAR after being handled in the buildup by Riyad Mahrez.
Haaland and De Bruyne came on in the second half, but neither could add to City’s lead. Not that the fans complained on the day about what was always going to be a post-match party and they couldn’t wait to gather their heroes as soon as the final whistle blew.
Immediately after the final whistle, supporters poured onto the field carrying celebratory banners and releasing blue smoke canisters. City players were later recorded singing “We Are the Champions” in the locker room before coming out for the trophy presentation to explosions of the ticker tape.
