They should have cut straight to the trophy presentation.
It was so predictable that even Manchester City's second string would beat Chelsea and the title was in the bag before Pep Guardiola's men had kicked a ball.
This felt more like an exhibition match getting in the way of a party at the Etihad with the champions putting on another show to remind us all how far ahead they are.
Incredibly, City were eight points behind Arsenal on April 1 but will end up winning the title by double figures if they win their remaining games at Brighton and Brentford.
That is some turnaround. But it says everything about Guardiola’s relentless attitude which is carrying him towards a Treble.
The Premier League title is the first step. The FA Cup final is the next target with Manchester United at Wembley next month. Then Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
This was their fifth Premier League title in six years. City made it 12 straight wins in the Premier League after seeing off Chelsea. No one can live with them.
Guardiola is the genius that drives this team forward. If ever you needed proof, Chelsea had a corner in the 93rd minute, Guardiola was down on his haunches in the technical area looking distraught at the prospect of losing their winning run.
City’s bench was just frightening. Ederson, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva made up £470m worth of talent who had supplied 90 goals this season.
Their winning goal was scored by Julian Alvarez, himself a World Cup winner and the Argentina striker would walk into virtually any other team’s starting line-up.
When their record-breaking striker Haaland eventually came on in the second half, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard turned back to his bench laughing as if to say: “What chance have we got?”
The answer is pretty straightforward. It is impossible to talk about City without mentioning the 115 charges hanging over them.
But since they were charged by the Premier League on February 6, they have used those accusations as a galvanising force. They have not lost since. Guardiola invoked a siege mentality that is carrying them towards glory.
City’s fans have embraced it. They raced onto the pitch after the final whistle in their thousands despite the pre-match warnings and messages on the big screens. They are In defiance.
City are just showing no signs of slowing down. It was a shame they did not win the game on the pitch and Arsenal’s capitulation at Nottingham Forest the night before had done the job for them.
This team will be remembered forever in the hearts and minds of the City fans. They have hit heights this season that no one has seen in English football before.
They are the best team in Europe. Signing Haaland last summer has pushed them on another level.
They do not need any help but Chelsea still obliged at the Etihad. Wesley Fofana’s sloppy pass gave the ball away, Cole Palmer raced clear, fed Alavrez who fired home.
It was refreshing that Palmer and Rico Lewis, two graduates from City’s academy, started the game and have played their part in the title success.
City could have won more comfortably - Kalvin Phillips headed against the post - but even a 1-0 win made it 100 goals in all competitions at the Etihad this season. That is a record in Europe’s top five leagues with Bayern Munich the next best with 67.
When the presentation finally started, the City players took it in turns to go up to the stage, receive their medals and then captain Ilkay Gundogan got the loudest cheer when he lifted the trophy and the party really began.
