Forever Blue- Jack Ward

It’s history made once again for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City who professionally dispatched West Ham United in front of the roaring Etihad crowd last Sunday to lift their record-breaking fourth successive Premier League title. 

It was more final day jeopardy for Manchester City, however, as the Premier League title would be decided on the very last game of the season for the third time under Guardiola. While it wasn’t the heart-stopping stress of the 2021/22 seasons’ final game against Villa which saw us overturn a 2-goal deficit in just five minutes, nor did it reach the heights of the points tallies amassed by Liverpool and City in the intense 18/19 season, it was, however a must-win game once again as title rivals, Arsenal were host to 15th place Everton. 

The blues were quick off the mark in this game, with the Premier League’s player of the season, Phil Foden, unleashing a stellar strike from distance in the second minute, his 6th league goal from outside the box and the most ever by a Manchester City player in a single campaign. He wasn’t finished there, however, as the Stockport midfielder pounced on a neat cutback from Jeremy Doku in the 18th minute to seal his brace and spark a roaring Etihad atmosphere. 

West ham had their backs against the walls in this game, but a goal-of-the-season contending bicycle kick from Mohammed Kudus just before the end of the first half put the hammers right back in contention to spoil the title party.  

The Blues patience was rewarded 15 minutes into the second half when City’s Portuguese magnifico picked the ball up in the West Ham penalty area and laid it off to Rodri, who was snubbed for premier league player-of-the-season, and passed it beyond the out-stretched hand of Alphonse Areola and in to the back of the net. 

It was nearly ‘typical City’ towards the end of the game as the two-goal cushion was halved shortly before time, however VAR intervened to confirm that Thomas Soucek had handled the ball past Stefan Ortega. City saw out the final few minutes in front of a roaring Eithad crowd to be crowned champions again, ole ole! 

Now, all eyes turn to Saturday, where the FA cup final against derby rivals Manchester United awaits. Before last year, Manchester City hadn’t met Manchester United in an FA Cup final in 152 years, now they meet for the second time in 2 years. 

I spoke to Man City legend Dennis Tueart about City’s chances leading up to the game: 

“Well, I just think, on the face of it, we’ve got to be the favourites without question.  

“With last time we played them, Gundogan scored after 12 seconds, whilst I was delighted, I was a bit disappointed because I held the record for the fastest derby goal when we beat Man United 4-0 in the lead up to the 1976 cup final when I scored after 35 seconds!” 

Despite Manchester United’s lowest premier league finish, Tueart was adamant: 

 “Previous form doesn’t count... Derby games are one off, people get themselves up and ready for the game and the atmosphere is special.” 

When discussing whether derbies have lost some of the sting that used to make them so special, Tueart stated: 

“They are important, but the one difference is that, when I played, there was a lot more local players from the area... It was more of a community game, rather than a global game.” 

As a lifelong City fan, I had to ask Dennis what it was like to score at Wembley in the league cup final 1976 against Newcastle, with that iconic bicycle kick. 

“It was unique because it was against my hometown team who’d rejected me as a 15-year-old.” 

“It was in front of 100,000 people, it was the winning goal, and it was a trophy for your supporters, for your teammates.” 

“It had all the elements of a special occasion.” 

Tueart, an FA cup winner with Sunderland in 1973, remarked an historic cup run with an eventual win in the final over Leeds United: 

“Without question, one of the best teams in the country and in Europe at the time.” 

“When Bob Stokoe took over in November 1972, we were joint second bottom of what’s known, now, as the championship.” 

“From then on, in those months from November to May, we went from joint second bottom to sixth in the league, and we had 9 games to play in the FA Cup, because of the replays, so it wasn’t an easy run!” 

When asked what it’s like to lift the FA Cup trophy, Tueart exclaimed: 

“It’s unique!” 

It’s the chance to add another trophy to Pep Guardiola’s decorated CV but, more importantly, it’s office bragging rights for one side of Manchester.