Manchester City's players pass by on an open top bus as soccer fans watch the winners parade as the team celebrates winning the English Premier League title in Manchester, England, Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
MANCHESTER, England (AP) - Puffing on a cigar, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrated his team's fourth English Premier League title in five seasons after a parade through the streets on Monday.
Three open-top buses carrying City players and staff navigated a short route through Manchester center after starting at the National Football Museum.
The parade came a day after City added another incredible comeback story to its history, scoring three goals in about five minutes to beat Aston Villa 3-2 and edge out Liverpool to the title by a single point.
'œIt was the plan, 0-2, calm, calm,'ť Guardiola said, with a laugh. 'œAnd after we scored it was a great night. Everybody knows what has happened is an incredible achievement. This is the toughest league, in six years since we arrived we had four. The happiness on all the faces is the greatest reward we can get.'ť
İlkay Gündoğan struck two late goals, either side of Rodri's equalizer, to give City the win.
'œDefinitely, it was a tough moment,'ť Guardiola said. 'œAlways the players show again, it was incredible to come back. There was a lot of tension in the last month after (the Champions League loss to Real Madrid) and a lot of difficult games.
'œWe never give up and we have to be so proud of the group.'ť
Goalkeeper Ederson sprayed more than one of the fans clinging to lamp posts from a bottle, while Jack Grealish offered to buy everyone on the roadside a shot if they wanted to meet him in town later on.
Kevin De Bruyne was far from alone in sporting dark glasses, admitting to being a 'œlittle bit drunk.'ť
The event also became a farewell party for club captain Fernandinho, who will return to his native Brazil this summer after nine years and 12 trophies with the club.
'œWhen I came here for the first time and met someone from City they said, '~Listen, we want you to be one of the leaders, we want you to be a champion','ť the 37-year-old Fernandinho said. 'œWhen I look back, all of the titles we won are really special.'ť
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Manchester City's players pass by on an open top bus as soccer fans watch the winners parade as the team celebrates winning the English Premier League title in Manchester, England, Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Smoke from a flare as Manchester City's players pass by on an open top bus as soccer fans watch the winners parade as the team celebrates winning the English Premier League title in Manchester, England, Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Flares and tape are let off as Manchester City's players celebrate on stage as fans watch the winners parade as the team celebrates winning the English Premier League title in Manchester, England, Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Manchester City's players and staff celebrates on stage as fans watch the winners parade as the team celebrates winning the English Premier League title in Manchester, England, Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Manchester City's Jack Grealish holds the trophy on stage as fans watch the winners parade as the team celebrates winning the English Premier League title in Manchester, England, Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Manchester City's Jack Grealish lifts the trophy on stage as fans watch the winners parade as the team celebrates winning the English Premier League title in Manchester, England, Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Fans cheer as they watch the Manchester City's winners parade as the team celebrates winning the English Premier League title in Manchester, England, Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola, cheers on stage as fans watch the winners parade as the team celebrates winning the English Premier League title in Manchester, England, Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne waves on stage as soccer fans watch the winners parade as the team celebrates winning the English Premier League title in Manchester, England, Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Manchester City's Jack Grealish lifts the trophy on stage as fans watch the winners parade as the team celebrates winning the English Premier League title in Manchester, England, Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Fans gather to watch the Manchester City winners parade as the team celebrates winning the English Premier League title in Manchester, England, Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press