Phil Foden and Aymeric Laporte have both been speaking to the press ahead of Sunday’s game at Brighton, while elsewhere journalists have taken the season finale as opportunity to reflect on Manchester City’s performance across the campaign.
We’ll begin, however, with Foden, who’s spoken to the Daily Mail in his first significant interview with a national newspaper.
In a wide ranging article the young midfielder discusses development, adjusting to his new found fame, his World Cup triumph and celebrating last season’s title win with a spot of night fishing!
On the current campaign Foden said: “It’s been a good season for me and for the team.
“It’s a successful season if we get two or three trophies. You can’t complain about that can you?
“Obviously we would have liked to go further in the Champions League and it was a little unlucky how we went out.
“But I think we have done brilliantly on the whole. If we win the league I will be so proud.’
Laporte, who spoke to the Daily Star, has also been reflecting on the significance of this weekend and revealed how picturing himself lifting the Premier League trophy is driving him on.
“Personally, I think the most important thought is to visualise myself with the trophy in my hands,” he said.
“That has been my motivation and something to look forward to.
“When the last game is approaching, I have that thought in my mind, the vision that, if we win this game, we can become champions again and lift another Premier League trophy.”
Meanwhile, in the Telegraph, James Ducker has been considering how City have improved in 2018/19.
He pinpoints the squad’s ability to cope with injury and defensive stability, whilst also praising the manager.
Writes Ducker: “Their endurance levels have been extraordinary considering they had more players (16) involved in the World Cup finals than any other club.
“But the work done by Guardiola in his first two seasons helped to forge an incredible bond, trust and confidence between the manager and players and provided the platform to allow them to kick on.”
We’ll finish with Sky Sports’ defining moments from the 2018/19 season.
John Stones’ goal line clearances against Liverpool features, as does Vincent Kompany’s thunderbolt against Leicester City.
But it is our 6-0 victory over Chelsea in February for which we receive the most praise.
Gerard Brand recalls: “City were 4-0 up with barely a quarter gone, but to many, it wasn’t a surprise.
“It seemed City were in behind Chelsea with every exhale of breath, their trademark wingers constantly ghosting into space and punishing the opposition in an unforgiving and playful manner. It was a joy to watch.”
That’s all for today, but stay tuned for mancity.com for all the build up to tomorrow’s title decider at Brighton.
