Manchester City manager congratulates Liverpool after his team's reign ends

It was a day Pep Guardiola saw coming a long time ago, as early as the first weeks of the longest season in the history of English football.

Maybe we didn't arrive with the same passion, the Manchester City manager said Thursday after seeing his team's two-season hold on the Premier League title ended by Liverpool.

Liverpool played every single game like it was the last chance they have. And maybe we didn't get that moment, especially the key moments in the first part of the season.

So when the moment finally came, at the final whistle of City's 2-1 loss to Chelsea at an empty Stamford Bridge, Guardiola was emotionally prepared for it. I've never thought, 'Always we can win,' he said.

 

Two in two for @cpulisic_10! #CHEMCI pic.twitter.com/s1PgnsO0Il

— Chelsea FC (at ) (@ChelseaFC) June 25, 2020

 Yet Guardiola could never have envisaged City losing its grip on the trophy with seven rounds of games left, his team 23 points behind Liverpool.

It was only two years ago that Liverpool finished 25 points behind City. Guardiola sent a big congratulations to Jrgen Klopp and his players after a game when City's big flaw this season defensive shakiness was exposed once again.