And what an epitaph those two words were given in a season where records fell to Roberto Mancini’s men like so many leaves in an autumn tempest.
In the end the margin of success over closest rivals United was goal difference but few would deny this was the year of the sky blues from start to glorious finish.
Eighteen home wins and one draw were the bedrock on which this first top flight title in 44 years was built.
The latest and most dramatic of them this afternoon coming against QPR courtesy of Pablo Zabaleta’s first goal of the season – timing is everything in life – and two goals in the last five minutes of the most incredible Premier League season ever.
Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero were the men who scored the winning goals and turned despair into delirium. Make no mistake with injury time already under way United fans were opening the champagne and sharpening their insults.
Any pre match nerves in the stands were not improved when the neighbours scored first at Sunderland but were quelled six minutes before half time when a limping Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri fashioned a chance for Zabaleta that the Argentinian drove through keeper Paddy Kenny.
The party began early and nowhere was it enjoyed more than in stands where the drama was being viewed through an ever thickening veil of joy-induced tears by the living legends from 1968.
What they saw was a team that had conquered its own demons and ridden all manner of off the field ups and downs to complete a withering run to the winning post that chopped away at the seemingly insurmountable eight point gap with United and left the rest of the Barclays Premier League breathless with admiration.
In four short years City have gone from a side that lost its way and last game 8-1 at Middlesbrough to a self-confident, growing, socially responsible club that many think can rule domestically and in Europe for seasons to come. Thank you Abu Dhabi!
Mancini, ever mindful of superstition and they form of his side, sent out the same starting eleven that downed United 1-0 and Newcastle in two epic heavyweight contests.
A sign of City’s strength is that household international names Kolo Toure, Adam Johnson and David Pizarro, and Owen Hargreaves were not even invited onto a star packed bench.
Roared on by a sun-kissed Etihad crowd bursting the new ground at the seams, City started well displaying all the controlled passion and panache one has come to expect from England’s top team.
QPR, fighting for their lives at the foot of the table with their get out of jail card being played at the Britannia Stadium where Stoke entertained Bolton, were obdurate but limited in their ambitions; it was hardly surprising since they need a point to secure survival and same themselves an estimated £40million.
However, Mark Hughes did spring something of a surprise when he chose to start with both Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse though both spent more time in their own half than City’s.
City had the lion’s share of possession but failed to trouble Kenny for much of the half. Eleven men behind the ball is a tough nut to crack and QPR defended valiantly restricting David Silva, Aguero and Toure to speculative pot shots. Toure’s last contribution before a pulled hamstring ended his afternoon was to make the goal. He at least was able to celebrate his birthday in style.
Joey Barton’s last involvement was somewhat less positive as he was sent off for elbowing Carlos Tevez and then added to his misdemeanour by kicking Aguero on his way off.
By then the Hoops had levelled thanks to the dead-eye shooting of Cisse after Shaun Wright-Phillips speculative ball skimmed Joleon Lescott’s head.
That looked like the end for the Blues who huffed and puffed and brought a couple of great saves from Kenny before Dzeko’s header brought the side’s level and then Aguero, as he has done all year, came up trumps and fired the Blues into wonderland and history.
00Years!
