Manchester City Fan View: Citizens celebrate coronation

On a gloriously sunny Sunday at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City finally got their hands on the Premier League trophy that they won almost a month ago on April 15. The Blues have been Champions-in-waiting since December and their procession towards the title culminated in Vincent Kompany hoisting the trophy above his head for a third time in front a crowd resplendent in that most beautiful sky blue.

The coronation of the new Champions of England was always going to be Sunday’s main event. However, there was a football match to play first and we were hoping to see even more Premier League records fall. City started the day one goal short of equalling the most goals scored in a season and just three points short of the points record. The Blues also needed just seven points to get to 100, with three games to play.

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It didn’t quite go according to plan. The 90 minutes followed the pattern of most games at the Etihad this season; City dominated possession and pushed for goals throughout, while the visitors resolutely held on without creating a whole lot for themselves. On this occasion, the visitors were Huddersfield Town and they held on better than most sides do against Pep Guardiola’s magnificent team.

The Terriers held City to a 0-0 draw, denying them the two big records to make this the perfect coronation. In the end, it hardly mattered. The visiting fans were absolutely ecstatic with their point – it’s a huge one in their battle to stay in the league – and for the home crowd, any frustration at the failure to break David Wagner’s side down immediately tempered, as the build-up to the presentation began.

This was yet another special day to add to the many that City have had over the last decade. It’s the third time we’ve seen them lift the Premier League title since 2012. That first one ended a run of 44 years without sitting top of the pile in this country. Prior to the takeover of the club in 2008, if you’d have said City would win even one trophy in our lifetime, you would have been told you were talking codswallop. Now it’s a regular occurrence; One can only imagine we’ll see plenty more of them in the years to come.

This was a coronation that spanned the generations in a way the last two did not. At one end of the age range, the elder statesmen were getting a share of the limelight that is likely to diminish over the coming years. Vincent Kompany and David Silva have plenty left in the tank yet, but they’re both over 30 and these occasions must feel somewhat more precious as they approach the twilight of their careers.

For Yaya Toure, it was the last trophy he’ll lift in our blue shirt. Guardiola gave confirmation this week that the Ivorian will leave in the summer, meaning he has just two more games to play. He has hardly featured this term, but his contribution to our greatest days is second to nobody. He deserved to stand on one final podium.

At the other end of the scale, the younger players have now had a real taste of success. Raheem Sterling, Kyle Walker and John Stones have all faced plenty of criticism for joining City. Oh how they must regret their decisions as they look back on this season where they were crucial in City’s stroll to the title, and where they were League Cup champions in February. For them, Leroy Sané, Phil Foden and the rest, this is a taste of things to come.

There have to be more of these days. This era is perfectly set up for City to dominate. We have the best manager and some of the best players in the game, and the best thing is there’s still plenty of room for improvement. This was a day to savour and there’s still two games to clinch those sought-after records. Then the task of doing it all again can begin in earnest.