Jack Grealish confessed playing for Manchester City is "harder than I thought" after summing up his first year at the Etihad.
The midfielder made a summer switch from Aston Villa in a £100m deal - a British record fee. Pep Guardiola's demands are no secret, nor is the relentless nature of the environment on the blue half of Manchester, but Grealish still seemed to underestimate the task ahead of him.
Grealish has been in and out of the starting XI, which is not rare for new signings under Guardiola, but his price tag continued to be held against him with some expecting him to make an instant impact. Across the season he's scored six times in 39 outings, but often been used from the bench.
He didn't even make it off the bench as City staged an epic comeback to see off Villa and claim the title. During the celebrations he was asked to sum up his first year at the Ethiad on Sky Sports and simply replied: "Harder than I thought".
Discussing City's title triumph, Grealish added: "Honestly it's unbelievable. After the third goal went in I ran on the pitch then I ran down the tunnel just crying my eyes out. As a kid all you want to do is play in the Premier League, then you want to win it. We know with our quality we can beat anyone, which we did in the last 20 minutes or so. (It means) everything. When I signed friends and family asked me 'what do you actually want to win?' and for me I've always wanted the Premier League.
"It (playing for City) is more difficult than I thought, but I've enjoyed every minute. I stepped out of my comfort zone, new changing room, new surroundings. It has been difficult, but this today makes up for it."
The England star did back himself to make more of an impact next season however, stating: "I know I can kick on and I certainly will, I feel like I played my part in certain games, even the goal last week at West Ham which meant a lot. I can kick on so much more, I know in myself, the role I can play at this football club."
City's win means they have won four of the past five Premier League titles, despite an incredible effort from Liverpool, who beat Wolves on the final day. Kevin De Bruyne, who laid on the assist for Ilkay Gundogan's winner, admitted their goals were the turning point.
He said: "After 2-1 we switched. You’re doubting yourself. You’re losing anyway, you want to change the situation. We created more chances before the second goal. It is what it is. I knew it was 1-1 at half time but after I wasn’t quite sure.
"Even then, we looked at ourselves, you see how we tried to change the situation ourselves. We didn't want to look at Liverpool. It’s so different. We tried to keep as calm as possible. 2-1 just changed the whole situation for me. The stadium changes, the atmosphere."
