Man City produce dramatic late comeback to retain Premier League title

Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) and Manchester City’s English defender John Stones (L) celebrate with the Premier League trophy on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 22, 2022. – Manchester City won the Premier League for the fourth time in five seasons after a pulsating title race reached a dramatic conclusion as the champions staged an incredible comeback from two goals down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 on Sunday. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Pep Guardiola said Manchester City’s Premier League champions are “legends” who will be “remembered forever” after their thrilling 3-2 win against Aston Villa clinched the title on the last day of the season.

Guardiola’s side looked set to gift the trophy to second-placed Liverpool after Villa took a shock two-goal lead in the second half at the Etihad Stadium.

But Guardiola sent on German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and he sparked an incredible revival as City scored three times in five minutes in the closing stages.

Gundogan got City’s first and bagged the winner in the 81st minute after Rodri’s equaliser.

The incredible comeback gave City their fourth title in five seasons as they finished one point ahead of Liverpool to end their rivals’ quadruple bid.

Only Manchester United in the Alex Ferguson era have won the title so many times in a five-year period.

And Guardiola believes his team deserve to be ranked among the greatest in English football history.

“These guys are legends. When you win in this country four times in five years, it is because these guys are so special. They will be remembered forever,” Guardiola said.

Guardiola admitted it was a