'It's as if they don't understand expectation'published at 09:15
09:15
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Former Premier League midfielder Leon Osman says he is hugely impressed with Manchester City's continuous ability to cope with expectation, after Sunday's 3-1 win over West Ham confirmed a fourth successive title for Pep Guardiola's side.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast: "When you put players of this quality together, they have a real belief in each other that they can perform for each other and they won't let each other down.
"The expectation is what's difficult - to go and do it again - and it's as if this team don't understand expectation. It's as if their own expectation is more important to them. They just keep on delivering.
"They keep on competing at the very highest level and I can't speak highly enough of how difficult that is for any set of players, regardless of how good they are."
'Six titles at the age of 23? Unbelievable'published at 08:50
08:50
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Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has been praising Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side for the "standard they set", after they became the first team in top-flight history to win the league in four consecutive seasons.
"They are unbelievable - the standards they set, their performances week after week and year after year," said Shearer on Match of the Day.
"To keep going again - when other teams are trying almost everything to get back to their level - to keep performing at the level they do as players and Pep, because he is the one who has to motivate them and keep them going.
"It is a remarkable achievement. They have played some unbelievable football."
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright highlighted 23-year-old Phil Foden's performance, after the midfielder scored two goals to claim what is already his sixth title: "He was fantastic. He was very, very difficult to pick up - with the form he is in, you wouldn't be able to pick him up anyway.
"His movement between the lines, his touches, his running off the ball - he just doesn't get picked up and he is able to just run through people.
"When you are playing in this kind of purple patch, sometimes you don't even need to make the run, it just comes to you. He was getting too much time and space.
"This is how we want to see this man playing. This is what you are hoping you are going to see from England, in that number 10 role."
Shearer added: "In that number 10 role, he is unplayable at times. He is that good.
Looming charges 'unfair' on playerspublished at 08:28
08:28
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Manchester City still have 115 charges for alleged financial breaches hanging over them but former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer does not believe that takes anything away from the achievements of the manager and his players.
"No, not for these players it shouldn't - it is not their fault," he said on Match of the Day. "They have just got to go out and perform on the football pitch.
"The club will have to answer the charges, but those players have been superb and you cannot take anything away from what they have achieved."
Ex-Arsenal forward Ian Wright added: "The uncertainty that comes around it is unfair on the legacy these players are building.
"I was watching them again in that Treble documentary. You watch them and their drive and determination to try to do what they have done is unbelievable.
"It is unfair that they have got all of this wrapped around them, so the sooner they can get that result the better."
Shearer also discussed Pep Guardiola's comment on being closer to leaving Manchester City than completing another seven years of service at the club.
The Spanish manager's contract is due to expire at the end of next season, but Shearer does not think Guardiola will be going anywhere if he is still winning trophies.
"You can understand his comments. We saw what Jurgen Klopp has done because of how difficult the job is, the pressure that you are under, and the toll it has on you as an individual," he said.
"Everyone else will be wishing he has gone but, while he is still winning, he will be here to stay for a bit longer."
Your views on Sunday's game published at 22:27 19 May
22:27 19 May
We asked for your opinions on Sunday's Premier League fixture between Manchester City and West Ham, as Pep Guardiola's team clinched a record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Here are some of the best responses:
Man City fans
Carl: Unbelievable. These past 12 years have been amazing for a club who were often laughed at. I am overjoyed.
Tom: Congratulations to the lads on winning our fourth Premier League title in a row. Congratulations to Haaland on winning his second Golden Boot in two years. Pep Guardiola for Prime Minister?
Colin: I was a junior blue in 1968, when City won the title. It has been a hard slog for City to rise again, and to think that in 1999 Manchester United were winning everything and City were struggling to get out of the first division! The money made a difference, but all of the top clubs have money. It's what you do with it that matters. Well done to the players, staff and manager.
West Ham fans
Darren: Another soft, poorly motivated performance. There are too many players that have been on the beach since Easter. Individually, James Ward-Prowse was off the pace for the first two goals and Areola should've done better with the third. In-between, we offered very little except for Mo's worldie. How long can we keep him?
Andy: That summed up David Moyes nicely. We had nothing to lose, we could only finish ninth whatever happened, so he had the chance to let his hair down and have a go, but instead he picked a back five and went ultra-defensive. We couldn't possibly move forward under Moyes, I'm looking forward to a new chapter.
Joseph: We finished a respectable ninth, but the huge losses since the start of the year belay that achievement unfortunately. We could've finished the season so much better. Moyes has to take responsibility for leaving us with an ageing squad that has to be completely overhauled for next season, if we're going to be serious challengers in the Premier League.
Dave: I don't think that getting rid of David Moyes is the answer to West Ham's problems as a team. I think it's down to the chairman, who needs to spend more money on getting players in that will make West Ham more competitive in the Premier League.
'One of the most special' titles for De Bruynepublished at 20:01 19 May
20:01 19 May
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Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, speaking to Sky Sports: "It feels just as amazing as the first one. We worked so hard for it. It has been a tough battle with Arsenal and Liverpool this year, and to be here again doing something historic is amazing."
On scoring so early against West Ham: "It helped us obviously. Great goal from Phil [Foden], it just shows the great season he's had for us. The goals he has scored, he is so decisive for us. It is a brilliant moment for him to decide this game for us."
On which of his six titles is the most special: "For me this is one of the most special, because I have had a tough year being out for six months, but to come back in the way that I could. To help the team win and to be at a good level. It is special for me personally."
On the side's work ethic: "The manager sets the tone but this team enjoys playing with each other, it is not a team with big egos. We play around with each other, we run like crazy and we just enjoy it. The enjoyment is lasting so that's it."
Man City 3-1 West Ham: What Guardiola saidpublished at 19:50 19 May
19:50 19 May
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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to Sky Sports: "For Arsenal to push us to another level - this one has been incredible.
"We get the message, we know they will be there for many years. Mikel Arteta is a young manager with big talent. They sent us a message that you have to be careful for the next few years!
"When I moved here if someone had said I would win six leagues in seven seasons I would say you are insane - no way. Now is our period."
On what their secret to success is: "I do not know. A lot of work. I am not saying I am a bad manager but I have incredible support from the club. We have this work ethic, everyone does their job and every department is so important. This is the truth and the reality."
On whether he was thinking about making history by winning four in a row: "Not in the beginning but in January/February, I said no-one has done it, so why not? Always, from past experience, we think about the titles with two months left. In November and December it is not good to think of it."
On staying at the club: "The reality is I am closer to leaving than staying. We have talked with the club - my feeling is that I want to stay now. I will stay next season and during that season we will talk. But at eight or nine years - we will see."
City have 'togetherness that is just amazing' - Grealishpublished at 19:42 19 May
19:42 19 May
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Manchester City's Jack Grealish, speaking to Sky Sports: "It is an unbelievable feeling to be history-makers. I have been here three years and every year I have won a Premier League - it has been unbelievable.
"And for the guys that have been here four years, some say it is the hardest league in the world, so to do four in a row is unbelievable.
"I said last year I have never been in a team anywhere where we have what we have here. We have everything, younger guys, experienced guys, talent, and a togetherness that is just amazing.
"I do not feel like I have performed well this season at all. I performed better this year than my first year. That first year I just wanted to win no matter what. Last year I played more and this season has been stop-start. I played well at points.
"My standards are high so I feel like I could have played more in some games. I wanted to play as much as I could like last season. We have so many good players here so it is difficult. There is no team in the world that rotates like this team do, but that is the beauty of it."
On what he said to Pep Guardiola at full-time: "I just said congratulations, and he said 'no, you congratulations!' He is an unbelievable guy. I have had times this season that I have struggled off the pitch - I do not mind saying that - and he has been there for me so much. He is a brilliant manager on the pitch but behind closed doors and in his office, he has helped me too."
'We kind of knew we were going to do it'published at 19:27 19 May
19:27 19 May
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Manchester City striker Erling Haaland says "it is incredible and fantastic" to win his second Premier League title with the club.
"After we beat Spurs we kind of knew we were going to do it," Haaland told Sky Sports. I was confident."
On the difference in City's performance after Christmas: "It is like that every year. It is like we add on a little bit extra because that's when it really matters. I am happy and I can't complain."
In addition to the Premier League trophy, the striker added a second consecutive Golden Boot to his collection for his haul of 27 goals this season.
"It is not bad," he added. "There is not much to say. It is better to just play football and not speak too much. Let other people do the speaking and that is better."
On if playing in the Premier League lived up to his expectations: "It has been harder than I expected. In every game it is not like a final but it is not far away. You come away somewhere or even at home you can't relax. Every game is so intense and tough.
"It's a bit demanding at times [playing for Pep Guardiola]. It is tough, but look what he has done!
"He demands a lot every single day. If you do not live up to what he expects you have a big problem. He is demanding and he is a lovely guy and I love him to pieces."
'We are so proud and so happy' - Silvapublished at 19:17 19 May
19:17 19 May
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Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva says it is "unbelievable" to have won four Premier League titles in a row and it is an achievement that the squad are all "so proud" of.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Silva said: "The margins are so small [in title wins]. Liverpool in two seasons we beat them by one point and now Arsenal by two points. We have been lucky enough to have these small margins to be in front of them.
"The achievement is unbelievable. Four in a row, we are so, so proud and so, so happy."
On which Premier League title is the most special, he added: "All of them but the first one is always the most special. Winning four in a row and something that has never been done before is unbelievable, right?
"The way this team is built means we know if everyone works very hard we are a step closer to winning. As the senior guys right now, we have to make sure that the new guys feel the same way. In this team it is not acceptable to not work and give 100% and that is what we do every game."
We are all in awe of Guardiola, says Moyespublished at 19:01 19 May
19:01 19 May
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
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West Ham manager David Moyes has just been into the press conference room and he is understandably full of praise for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
"There used to be an argument that clubs couldn't win the title back-to-back," said the Scot.
"He has blown that sky-high. Four in a row is incredible.
"Everyone in football is in awe of his coaching but there is more to it than that. He is a really good man-manager and has the ability to control players. Either that or he has some hairdryer because he has got them on a string because they won't step out of place.
"His ability to manage is second to none."
Man City 3-1 West Ham: Key statspublished at 18:54 19 May
18:54 19 May
Here are the key facts and figures from Sunday's game between Manchester City and West Ham in the Premier League.
Manchester City are the first team in English top-flight history to win the title in four consecutive seasons, having won the league in 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Pep Guardiola has clinched his sixth Premier League title with Manchester City – he is just the fourth manager to win as many as six English top-flight titles, along with Sir Alex Ferguson (13), George Ramsay (six) and Bob Paisley (six).
City have now gone 35 matches unbeaten in all competitions (W29 D6), the longest run ever by a Premier League team. In English top-flight history, the only team with a longer unbeaten run is Nottingham Forest between March and November 1978 (40 in a row).
West Ham United conceded 74 Premier League goals this season, their most in a single league season since 1966-67 (84). They are the first side to finish as high as ninth in a top-flight season when shipping that many goals since 1963-64 when both Spurs (conceded 81 and finished fourth) and Arsenal (conceded 82 and finished eighth) did so.
Phil Foden has scored six goals from outside the box in the league this season, which is the most of any player, and the most ever by a Manchester City player in a single campaign. It is the most by a player for any team in the competition since 2018-19, when Christian Eriksen also scored six.
Mohammed Kudus was involved in 14 Premier League goals for the Hammers this season with eight goals and six assists). It is the joint-most ever by a Ghanaian player in a Premier League campaign, along with Tony Yeboah in 1994-95 (12 goals, two assists), Asomoah Gyan in 2010-11 (10 goals, four assists), and Andre Ayew in 2015-16 (12 goals, two assists).
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