There were memorable scenes in Manchester on Monday night as Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City players celebrated their latest Premier League title win in style with an open-top bus parade.
Having retained their crown on Sunday afternoon courtesy of some on-field heroics from Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and his City teammates, the squad partied into the night and they continued well-earned celebrations in front of thousands of supporters who flooded onto the city centre streets.
As such lasting memories were created and, two years on from the devastating Covid-19 outbreak, this provided a welcome signal that normality has returned. That was certainly the case on-field when Gundogan came off the subs bench to score two late goals and earn City another Premier League title amid a high-octane final day.
READ MORE: Man City and their fans cut loose with Premier League celebrations
Starting their last game with a one-point advantage, City needed every single goal from their dramatic six-minute burst which saw Gundogan net twice and Rodri also get his name on the scoresheet. At that stage, rivals Liverpool were only drawing - but they too went on to claim three points against Wolves.
A little more than 24 hours on from those heroics, Guardiola and his star-studded City team boarded the open-top bus at Exchange Square and made their way to St Mary's Gate and on to Deansgate. They eventually pitched up for an on-stage show at Beetham Tower and that is where the real title-winning party began.
As the cheers got louder and louder, the players were welcomed onto the platform and each took turn to address the fantastic supporters who flooded onto the streets to catch a glimpse of them in their finest hour. Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne were among those to pick up the mic.
However, it was departing and much-loved captain Fernandinho who raised the decibel level even further when he strode out carrying the club's fourth Premier League trophy in five seasons. He leaves with his head held high after a hugely-successful nine years at the Etihad Stadium.
That journey offered one last parting gift as the fans continued to serenade him and his teammates into the night.
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