After Manchester City’s failure to replace the club’s all-time top goalscorer Sergio Aguero with Tottenham’s Harry Kane last summer, several fans and pundits alike were sceptical about how they would fare in the 2021/22 season.
However, Pep Guardiola’s side certainly made their doubters eat their words after becoming Premier League champions with an incredible 93-point tally to their name, pipping closest challengers Liverpool to domestic glory by just a single point.
While their rotten luck in the Champions League continued after eventual winners Real Madrid pulled off a comeback for the ages in the second-leg of the semi-final, the fact that City successfully managed to lift their fourth league title in the past five campaigns, despite the absence of a natural number nine, is an impressive feat.
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Speaking this week while away on international duty with England, Manchester City centre-back John Stones has reflected on the past season.
“I enjoyed the season a lot. A lot of learning. I know I keep going on about learning but it’s the only way that I can reflect on me personally and how I can move forward."
Stones continued, “Difficult going out of the Champions League (against Real Madrid), which kind of paused things within ourselves. The flight back after the game; we had been in a good position."
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"We’ve not had many big set-backs like that or had to deal with many and again that showed our character and made our winning mentality even stronger to go and win the Premier League. We left it late, that’s all I can say!”
While the English international defender is certainly correct in feeling gutted about Manchester City’s Champions League exit, as they had one foot in the final at one stage, he is also right in pointing out that the side’s lion-hearted response to go on and win the Premier League title despite intense pressure from Jurgen Klopp's side until the very end.
Featured Image Credit: PA Images / AlamyTopics: John Stones, Manchester City, Champions League, Premier League, Real Madrid