Manchester City Crowned 2020/21 Premier League Champions

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 11: A champions banner is seen outside Etihad Stadium as Manchester City fans celebrate winning the Premier League title on May 11, 2021 in Manchester, England. Manchester City Football club claims the Premier League title as nearest rival Manchester United lost to Leicester today 1-2. Football fans are currently unable to attend matches due to coronavirus restrictions. (Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 11: A champions banner is seen outside Etihad Stadium as Manchester City fans celebrate winning the Premier League title on May 11, 2021 in Manchester, England. Manchester City Football club claims the Premier League title as nearest rival Manchester United lost to Leicester today 1-2. Football fans are currently unable to attend matches due to coronavirus restrictions. (Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)

On 11 May, Manchester City were crowned the 2020/21 English Premier League Champions after rivals Manchester United lost to Leicester City.

The Sky Blues have now won the EPL on five occasions, three of which came under Pep Guardiola’s tenure. Each of Guardiola’s three EPL winning seasons also has its own story.

During the 2017/18 run, Manchester City won the EFL “Carabao” Cup and earned 100 points to win the EPL title. The “Centurions” became the first senior men’s club to earn 100 points in a single season in the top flight of English football. They also only lost two league matches during the entire season.

Then, in the 2018/19 season, City became the first senior men’s club to win all four domestic trophies. The “Fourmidables” won the FA Community Shield, Carabao Cup, EPL, and FA Cup. They were also the first club to retain the EPL title in back-to-back seasons since Manchester United’s triple-winning run from 2006-2009.

The 2020/21 season has a different story. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, clubs were forced to compete against one another without the presence of their fans. Several players were sidelined throughout the season as either they or their family and friends had contracted the virus. Thankfully, they all recovered from the disease.

In addition, the 2020/21 league and domestic cup matches were cramped into a shorter season, where clubs averaged a match every three or four days. Unfortunately, the quick succession of these matches took a toll on several players as numerous footballers were sidelined due to injury.

Manchester City, in particular, started the season poorly. With the continued absence of Sergio Agüero and Gabriel Jesus at the start of the season, City struggled to score goals. They were unable to win games in a convincing fashion, and they dropped points against some lesser opponents. By early December 2020, City were sitting in sixth place in the EPL.

City Captain Fernandinho called an emergency meeting with his teammates, where they discussed their struggling form. Following the conclusion of these discussions, City went on their remarkable run, and they set several records. These results saw Manchester City win their fourth consecutive Carabao Cup, they advanced to their first UEFA Champions League Final, and they won the league.

Overall, Manchester City showed their resilience during this remarkable run. Their perseverance paid off. Having won the 2020/21 EPL title, Manchester City will now shift their focus to the UEFA Champions League. Onto the 29 May.