What Man Utd greats Gary Neville and Roy Keane said on Pep after Man City edged Liverpool
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Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Roy Keane have paid tribute to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after his side secured the Premier League title on a dramatic final day of the season.
City and Liverpool have both played their part in one of the most memorable title races in Premier League history - but it was Guardiola’s men that produced some late heroics to become champions for the fourth time in five seasons.
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Hide AdGoals from Aston Villa duo Matty Cash and Philippe Coutinho looked to have spoit the party at the Etihad Stadium as their side took a two-goal lead to open the door for Liverpool.
With their nearest title rivals being held by Wolves at Anfield, City rallied as a brace from Ilkay Gundogan and a fine finish from Rodri turned the game on its head.
Liverpool also rallied in the closing stages to take the three points and keep up the pressure on City until the final seconds of a tense final day - but Guardiola’s side held firm to secure the win they needed to become champions and end the Reds’ quadruple hopes.
The title win moves Guardiola alongside Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish on four top-flight title wins as a manager and he now sits just one behind legendary trio Tom Watson, Matt Busby and Herbert Chapman.
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Hide AdSpeaking to Sky Sports, former Manchester United and England defender Neville described City’s fourth title win under the Spaniard as ‘an incredible achievement’.
He said: “About seven or eight years ago, we said you wouldn’t see this, you wouldn’t see managers staying here for seven or eight years. Don’t try and replicate what Paisley, Shankly, Ferguson, other managers have done.
“It’s actually proving you can do it if you find the right matching club, the right manager and group of players. This is dominance, four in five years today I think classes as absolute dominance in English football over a period of time. (It’s) an incredible achievement.”
Fellow Red Devils legend Keane baulked at suggestions Guardiola’s success is solely down to the large investment made in his playing squad throughout his City reign as he praised the consistency shown by his squad over a dramatic season.
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Hide Ad“Without a doubt, he’s absolutely brilliant,” said Keane. “People will always argue he’s had a few bob to spend and he’s always worked with the top players at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now at City. It’s just the way they play, how consistent they are.
“We see his interviews, his passion, he’s on about players running, for all of their technical ability, it’s what they do out of possession. That’s where I take my hat off to him. I can’t speak highly enough of him. I think the guy is brilliant.”
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