My players are legends, says Pep Guardiola after Manchester City’s title success

Pep Guardiola branded his Manchester City stars “legends” for securing a fourth Premier League title in five years following a breathless end to the season against Aston Villa.

A decade on from Sergio Aguero sealing the crown in a jaw-dropping 3-2 final day win, a rocking Etihad Stadium witnessed similar drama just as the title appeared to be slipping from their grasp.

Matty Cash and former Liverpool favourite Philippe Coutinho scored against stunned City, who knew the crown would head to Anfield if Jurgen Klopp’s Reds eventually found a way to beat well-drilled Wolves.

Liverpool ended up 3-1 victors but City by that point had launched a five-minute turnaround rendering that immaterial, with substitute Ilkay Gundogan scoring either side of Rodri’s strike in another unforgettable 3-2 victory.

“In the last five years winning four Premier Leagues, these guys are legends already,” a beaming Guardiola said after his side maintained their one-point advantage over Liverpool.

“I’m sorry, people have to admit it. This group of players are absolutely eternal in this club because what we achieve is so difficult to do.

“Just Sir Alex Ferguson with United has done it years ago two or three times, now I realised again the magnitude of Sir Alex Ferguson and his United.”

City’s day was soured slightly when it was revealed Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen was “assaulted” amid scenes of bedlam, with thousands of City fans pouring on to the pitch at the full-time whistle.

City issued an apology to the Swede and vowed to indefinitely ban the fan responsible for the attack, and Guardiola said: “I don’t know how (to stop it). We are so sorry. It’s the bad news of today.”

Liverpool were unable to exert any pressure on their rivals after falling