Manchester City’s astonishing numbers over seven years prove they are the greatest English club side of all time, an emotional Pep Guardiola said last on Sunday.
City became the first club to lift four consecutive top-flight titles after Phil Foden inspired them to a 3-1 victory over West Ham on the Premier League’s final day.
Guardiola admitted he is unsure what next year’s motivation will be now but insisted the legacy of this City squad will live on eternally after they posted more than 90 points again and pipped Arsenal to the title by two points.
‘A team has never done these numbers and this is the standard,’ Guardiola said. ‘This I what the opponents have to do to beat this generation of player. In terms of numbers, nobody has been better than us — the records, the goals, the points and four in a row. If I landed here tomorrow and you say I will win six Premier Leagues in seven years, I would ask if you were crazy. It’s impossible. We have done something unbelievable.’
Guardiola, whose contract runs out at the end of next season, choked up when discussing Jurgen Klopp’s farewell at Liverpool and sang the praises of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
Pep Guardiola believes that his side’s achievements mean they should be considered the greatest English club side of all time
Phil Foden’s first-half brace made for a relatively stress free afternoon at the Etihad on Sunday
City have become the first team in English top-flight history to win four titles in succession
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He said: ‘I’m sure Mikel will continue his legacy to drive us to another level. With Arsenal, we get the message — they will be there for many years.
‘I had the feeling in Istanbul last year (after City won the Treble) that it’s over, there’s nothing left to achieve. But I have a contract, I’m still here. Some of the moments I’m a bit tired but some of the moments I love.
‘Now it (four in a row) is done, so what next? The FA Cup. Gary Lineker told me no team has done back-to-back Doubles.’
On the prospect of winning a fifth straight league title next season, Guardiola added: ‘Now I don’t know what exactly the motivation is to do it.
‘But knowing the players and myself, I know that next year we will say, “Why should we not win today?” Why should we not work as much as possible to do what we have to do? And I know we are going to do it.’