Pep Guardiola has hailed Manchester City’s remorseless title defence as the most satisfying achievement of his managerial career.
City will retaining the Premier League crown if they win their last two games and they can go back above stubborn rivals Liverpool, who won 3-2 away to Newcastle on Saturday with an 86th minute goal, into first place with a Monday night victory over visitors Leicester.
Guardiola’s side created Premier League history last season by becoming the first champions to pile up 100 points and taking the title by a record-breaking margin of 19 points over runners-up Manchester United.
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Victories over the Foxes — who beat them 2-1 in the reverse fixture — and away to a Brighton side who are now safe and have nothing to play for on the final day next Sunday will see City finish with 98 points and become the first side since Man United a decade ago to win back-to-back Premier Leagues.
And Guardiola, who won the Champions League twice and La Liga three times in four seasons as Barcelona coach and the Bundesliga in all three of his years leading Bayern Munich, feels this determined title defence tops those achievements.
“I didn’t expect to maintain that level,” he said. “When you get 100 points, everyone [in the squad] thinks we won’t do what we have to do, we will do less because we won, but it was completely the opposite.
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“Every three days, in all competitions, we try to play and try to win. Sometimes it doesn’t happen, but it’s football. We accept when we lose, shake hands with the opponents and congratulate them.
“But arriving at this stage, two games left with 92 points, after 100 points last season, and being there again — that is the most satisfaction I’ve had as a manager.
“It’s not easy, honestly. And the players, they did it again.”
City's Quadruple chase ended with a shock loss to Tottenham on away goals in the Champions League quarter-finals, but having already retained the League Cup they could complete a unique domestic Treble as they face Watford in the FA Cup Final in a fortnight.
