"I am going to enjoy this day" - Erling Haaland reacts after Manchester City are crowned Premier League champions
Erling Haaland has expressed his joy at Manchester City being crowned the Premier League champions.
Arsenal's 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, May 20, saw Manchester City clinch the 2022-23 league title, their third title in as many seasons. Haaland has been instrumental in the club's success this term, helping them to the title with 36 goals in the league, breaking the Premier League's long-standing goalscoring record.
After title celebrations at the Etihad Stadium following Manchester City's 1-0 defeat of Chelsea, Haaland said that he will remember this season for the rest of his life. He said:
"These are memories I will remember for the rest of my life. We’ve been fighting so hard. [I feel] unreal. I honestly don’t know what to say. You see me smiling and everything, I’m so happy!"
The 22-year-old added:
"It’s special. I am going to enjoy this day. It’s a special moment with the trophy. Without the club this would not be possible. It is amazing. Debut season, 36 goals so far, Premier League trophy and two finals left, not a bad start!"
Having led Manchester City to their fifth Premier League title in six seasons, Pep Guardiola could write more history if he leads them to a continental treble. The Cityzens are in the running to win the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup.
“We have done something exceptional” - Pep Guardiola takes pride in Manchester City's Premier League triumph
Pep Guardiola stated that winning three back-to-back Premier League titles is an ‘exceptional’ achievement, though he is keen on adding a fourth title next season.
Manchester City became only the fifth club in the history of English football to win three top-flight titles in a row. Huddersfield Town (1924-1926), Arsenal (1933-1935), Liverpool (1982-1984), and Manchester United (1999-2001 & 2007-2009) are the other teams to have achieved that feat.
Speaking after title celebrations at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola said that he wants to make Manchester City the first team to win four titles in a row. He said:
“When we start next season, we are going to try to be the first team to win four Premier Leagues. We don’t need decades to think about how good it was. We have the feeling we have done something exceptional.”
He added:
“The next season all the teams will want to beat us, it’s normal. Defending our crown, mentally we have to prepare for that. That will be the challenge. We are going to play with the quality that we have - and human quality. The quality will be there.”
City have two away fixtures scheduled to end their league season. They face Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford next.