City 2 West Ham 0: May 2014
A goal in each half from Samir Nasri and Vincent Kompany was enough to see off the Hammers and ensure Liverpool’s win over Newcastle counted for nothing.
It’s the first time City have won two trophies in one season since 1970, with Manuel Pellegrini’s side timing their sprint to the finish line perfectly following five successive victories.
Now Blues around the world can start their celebrations in earnest with a second title in just three seasons.
This was not a day for the feint-hearted. City fans have long been used to the last-day dramas the Club has put them through, with two promotions and one relegation on the final day during the 1980s; another relegation and successive promotions in the 1990s before the relative calm that would follow for more than a decade. Then came the last day games against QPR and then West Ham to decide the title – that’s eight games that shaped the history of the Blues and all in a relatively short space of time. Eight too many!
On paper and current form, City at home to West Ham looked a fairly straightforward game for the Blues, but with Liverpool waiting in the wings for any slip-ups and the sheer unpredictability of the Premier League in mind, no home supporter was taking anything from granted.
Manuel Pellegrini made just one change from the team that gradually wore down a stubborn Aston Villa in midweek with the return of Sergio Aguero – the hero of that most incredible title win in 2012 – James Milner dropped to the bench as a result.
The Blues were welcomed onto the pitch with a spine-tingling rendition of Blue Moon and once the hand-shakes and formalities were complete, the stage was finally set for the latest chapter in this wonderful club’s history.
From the opening few minutes it became clear that the visitors’ game plan was containment with often ten men behind the ball as City probed for a way through the wall of claret and blue and save for a David Silva volley and an Aleks Kolarov howitzer that Adriano did well to tip over, it looked as though the first-half would end goalless.
Indeed, the loudest cheer had been saved for the news that Liverpool had fallen behind on 20 minutes, but finally, just before the break, the Etihad Stadium erupted as Nasri, tired of trying to play his way through the wall of Irons, hit a powerful drive from 20 yards that brushed Adrian’s fingers on its way into the net.
With just five minutes to go before the break, it was perfect timing from the Frenchman and settled any lingering nerves on the pitch and in the stands.
If that goal had given the Blues a deserved advantage, within four minutes of the re-start, it seemed as though the hosts’ advantage was unassailable as – fittingly – captain Kompany popped up to prod the ball home and make it 2-0 from close range.
City had chances to increase their advantage as the game wore on, but the defence was solid throughout and Joe Hart was a virtual spectator from start to finish.
Speaking after the game, captain Kompany declared: “I’m extremely happy. It’s unbelievable. This team has more than just talent - it has soul too.
“When we do well, I’m so happy for this club and the fans. It’s a credit to how we’ve played this season.
“As a kid, all you dream of is lifting trophies and I’m achieving that now. We’re building a club – not just a team. Next season, we need to be even better. If we want to be a big club, this trophy should be one of many.”
Champions again – well done lads. Now enjoy the celebrations!
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