Manuel Luis Pellegrini Ripamonti did not only finally win his first league title in Europe as a coach/manager, but he also became the first South American to win the English Premier League.
Against the odds, especially with the return of the Special One — Jose Mourinho — to the Chelsea team, Man City were crowned 2014 BPL champions.
Two EPL titles in three years and still hungry for more, we just have to ponder: Does the BPL now belong to Manchester City for the foreseeable future?
Under Roberto Mancini and a cautious playing style, City won the title in 2012, but this time around the quality of the football was just breathtaking. It was pleasing on the eye and full of goals, 102 to be exact.
Is this the affirmation of a new dynasty and power shift from one end of the city of Manchester to the other?
Why Man City Fans should be optimistic:
Any team that has in its fold the in-form Yaya Toure can lay claim to future ownership of the Premier League. Toure's form this season was World Player of the Year class. Twenty goals as a defensive/central midfielder says it all.
Unlike the first title conquered under the former manager, Mancini, City's game was much more detailed and choreographed this time around. They did not just win the title but won it in style, playing high possession football, full of interchanging of passes, rapid ball circulation and a clear playing pattern full of team play and fewer scandals.
Gone are the Mancini v Tevez or Mancini v Balotelli scuffles.
Though most of the current players were there two years ago, they are expressing themselves in an exceptional manner this season.
Dzeko netted 17 goals, the often injured Kun Aguero still managed to score 16 goals, Nasri and even central defender and captain Vincent Kompany were often on the scoreboard.
When a team's goals come from several players, it is a sign of a well-constructed team, not individually dependent for the future.
Eternal rivals Manchester United are in disarray and though there are prospects of a new manager coming to the rescue, one still wonders how they would manage to turn the tide.
Man City's most credible rivals Liverpool, due to their phenomenal season, are compensated with a Champions League slot next season, which is energy sapping and a much welcome distraction.
This season they were not in Europe and just narrowly missed out on the title conquest.. Next season they would need a bigger squad and would have to call on their reserve players more. This will make the task a bit more difficult for them and would help Manchester City's domination.
However, love him or loathe him, Jose Mourinho is a born party spoiler for opponents. After enduring his second consecutive season without a trophy he will be extra motivated to win the title next year.
That said, he still has to figure out how not to drop points against the lesser teams. I am not so optimistic for him....
The fact that most Man City players are due to participate in the upcoming 2014 World Cup is definitely going to be a big hindrance for them and could physically drain them for next season.
The future looks very bright for Manchester City. It is just about the richest club in the world at the moment and in Yaya Toure they possess about the best African export in recent years.
Statements coming out of the City camp are that they intend to improve the squad, become bigger, improve on this season and, as expected, confirm their stylish title-winning manager for more years to come.
It seems like Man City are definitely going to be around and be noisier neighbours to the restructuring Man United fand and the rest of the Premier League teams.
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