Man City bus parade sends perfect response to Man Utd fans after FA Cup final

As the Manchester City team bus pulled up outside the Hilton Hotel on Deansgate, any lingering disappointments about Saturday’s FA Cup final had long been dispelled.

Just over 24 hours after that Wembley heartbreak at the hands of their bitter rivals, City players were back in Manchester to celebrate the achievements of another record-breaking season. The jubilant blue masses that lined the streets are the first in English football history who can boast that their side has won four consecutive top-flight titles.

Perhaps some were put off by the Manchester United loss, the wet conditions and the odd timing - 7:30pm on a Sunday night - but thousands still turned out to show their appreciation of Pep Guardiola’s peerless side. It was a busy day in the city centre, with the Great Manchester Run staged hours before. There was barely time to reopen the roads, so short was the turnaround.

City’s open-top bus parade began at the National Football Museum, slunk through Exchange Square and made its way down Deansgate, averaging perhaps two miles per hour along the route. There was very much a party atmosphere as the players made their way onto the bus. Flags rippled against the grey sky, on a night set to the tune of fog horns, helicopters and chants. “One title is worth celebrating, let alone four,” remarked one observer.

City were introduced as the ‘best team in the land and the world’, a side that achieved something none of Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho’s great teams could. One City fan had a newborn strapped to his chest. The baby won’t remember this night, but will no doubt be told in years to come: “You were there.”

The only concern for City staff was when they would finally be able to clock off and have a few beers - it’s been a long weekend. The players travelled back from London on Saturday night, and met at the club’s training base on Sunday, before they were honoured with a civic reception at the National Football Museum to commemorate their remarkable achievements. CEO Ferran Soriano said a few words before everyone in attendance headed to one of the five buses parked outside.

Soriano was stationed at the finish point by the time the bus wound its way down Deansgate - truthfully, he probably had time to walk there and back twice. He was joined by Paul Dickov, 25 years on from that heroic Wembley comeback, and Mike Summerbee. 

The players’ family were in attendance, too. One child had ‘DADDY, 4, IN A ROW’ printed on the back of his shirt, while another cautiously traipsed out wearing City-branded ear defenders. Ronnie Foden, son of Phil, was lifted high into the sky by a family member and received a hero’s reception from the assembled masses.

As fans waited at the end point, a DJ set was punctuated only by renditions of City’s catalogue of songs. ‘Four in a row’, ‘Blue Moon’ and ‘we’ve got Guardiola’ were belted out. ‘Old Trafford’s falling down’ was chanted with real gusto on this particular weekend.

While United were triumphant at Wembley on Saturday, this was a reminder of where the real power in Manchester, and English football, resides. As unlikely as it looks, the FA Cup final win could yet save Erik ten Hag’s job, that’s despite an eighth-place finish and a negative goal difference. For Guardiola and City, some may feel slightly disappointed that this season has only resulted in a league title.

Ruben Dias and Kevin De Bruyne had carried the Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup onto the bus, a reminder that technically three pieces of silverware were collected this season. Kyle Walker was greeted by exultant shrieks as he held aloft the one that really matters: the Premier League.

Jack Grealish received the biggest cheer of any City player, as he bounced onto the bus, can in hand. While this was tame from the squad compared to parades of yesteryear, by the end Grealish was being fed beer, leading chants of his own name and trying to spray his girlfriend with champagne from the top of the bus. Some City fans in the front row got drenched - they didn’t care.

Further back, a sea of blue congregated on Liverpool Street - a construction site providing the perfect vantage point for the more reckless supporters. Inflatable bananas were brandished and giant blue balloons bounced down the road.

In the end, Grealish’s actions caught on. Erling Haaland and Rodri were soon spraying champagne at the crowd, as Guardiola led a rendition of his chant. If he had time to glance at his phone, no doubt it was inundated with messages, following reports in the Daily Mail that Guardiola will leave at the end of the season. The City boss won’t face questions from reporters for another two months, at least.

As the celebrations began drawing to a close, Josko Gvardiol was handing out beers to supporters near the front, while City’s players, adorning the club’s new 2024/25 home jersey, treated their fans to a Poznan celebration from atop the bus. There was time for a few last trophy raises before the players were finally ushered down the steps.

This, after all, was what the night was all about. Seeing another Premier League title. We might be waiting a long time for England’s next four-in-a-row bus parade.