Manchester City secured their second Premier League title in three
seasons after goals from Samir Nasri and captain Vincent Kompany saw
them stroll to victory over West Ham.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side knew a point would confirm they had regained
the crown – but goals either side of the interval from Nasri and Kompany
ensured the formalities were completed with barely an anxious moment in
front an ecstatic packed house at Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool’s home defeat to Chelsea and the late collapse at Crystal
Palace opened the door for City and they took advantage ruthlessly by
winning their last five games.
And for 60-year-old Chilean Pellegrini, it marked a triumphant
conclusion to his first season in charge after he was brought in to
replace sacked Roberto Mancini and entrusted with returning the title to
the club.
With 102 league goals and that two-point final margin, no-one can
begrudge City a success that is richly merited, for all Liverpool’s
efforts this season.
As referee Martin Atkinson sounded the final whistle and confirmation of
the title, City’s fans rushed on to the pitch in their thousands and
celebrated before retreating to allow captain Kompany to lift the trophy
once more.
City’s fans also paid tribute to their quiet manager who has guided them
to the title, while also claiming the League Cup – a more than healthy
return and justification of his appointment by the club’s Abu
Dhabi-based owners.
Pellegrini insisted City would not simply go in search of the draw that
would ensure they finished ahead of Liverpool barring a miraculous
turnaround on goal difference, and so it proved as they pressed forward
from the kick-off.
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