Manchester City saw the gray sky turn blue on Sunday as they celebrated their fourth consecutive Premier League title, with fans flooding the city streets to applaud their heroes once again.
The City proved their worth by finishing the title race in style with a 3-1 victory over West Ham on the final day, ending with 91 points, two more than Arsenal, and becoming the first English club to win four consecutive league titles.
Players and coaching staff waved to fans as confetti rained down and blue smoke fireworks lit up the bus route, just hours after thousands had participated in the Great Manchester Run.
Neither the weather nor the anticlimax of the ceremony, which took place the day after their defeat in the FA Cup final to Manchester United 2-1, could dampen the spirits of the fans, who waved flags, scarves, and even a life-size Jack Grealish doll.
“We are very pleased with this season, but we want to come back and try to win more,” said Phil Foden, who scored 19 goals in the Premier League and was named the competition’s Player of the Year.
“It’s the hunger I have inside me to win trophies. We have a fantastic group. It’s been a special season. Obviously, it’s something no one has ever done before, an incredible feeling, we couldn’t have done it without the team or the fans,” he added.
City’s ambition to continue winning trophies and the disappointment of losing the FA Cup were also mentioned by Portuguese international Bernardo Silva.
“Obviously, last night (Saturday) was frustrating, but we have to forget about that and celebrate four consecutive titles. It’s been a very good season for us,” he said.
After winning the treble last year, Pep Guardiola’s team added the Community Shield and the Club World Cup to this season’s Premier League title.
The Spanish manager, voted the Premier League Manager of the Year, smiled at the fans and showed excitement for the celebrations, despite taking responsibility for his team’s failure to secure a second consecutive double.