Rio Ferdinand lauds newly crowned champions Manchester City for taking the Premier League 'by storm' this season - and pundit also heaps glowing praise on 'maverick' Pep Guardiola for tactical tweaks

  • Manchester City have wrapped up their third Premier League title in four years
  • The trophy is now City's after Manchester United lost to Leicester at Old Trafford 
  • Rio Ferdinand has lauded the achievements of City and manager Pep Guardiola 
  • Guardiola's work overhauling his team tactically has been singled out for praise 

Rio Ferdinand has lavished praise on a triumphant Manchester City after the rampant champions secured yet another Premier League title.

City's crown, their third in four years, was officially sealed after Manchester United, who sit in second place, were defeated 2-1 by Leicester at Old Trafford.

And as the celebrations begun at the Etihad, Ferdinand didn't hold back in lauding City's achievements and singling out Pep Guardiola for his influence.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have officially been crowned Premier League champions

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have officially been crowned Premier League champions

A rampant City have sealed their third title in four years and been lauded by the football world

A rampant City have sealed their third title in four years and been lauded by the football world

'You've got to give credit when it's due,' Ferdinand said on BT Sport. 'I think Pep Guardiola and his men have bounced back. 


'I thought Liverpool the season before this were fantastic. Everyone thought, "who's going to be able to catch them?"

'Pep went back to the drawing board, fixed things up at Man City and they came out flying. They've taken the league by storm. Deserved champions, definitely.'

Rio Ferdinand (above) has saluted City's fine achievement and lauded Pep Guardiola's heroics

Rio Ferdinand (above) has saluted City's fine achievement and lauded Pep Guardiola's heroics

City's glory has been commended across the football world and their latest taste of glory is a stark contrast to their stuttering start to the season.

Boss Guardiola publicly admitted to not enjoying the displays from his team - but, after his superb work on the training field, City were able to burst back into form.

'Pep, I love him,' Ferdinand added. 'I think he's a maverick... this season especially, with what's he's done, tactically the way he's changed things. 

'He thickened up the midfield. He's got more bodies in and played with a false No 9. 

Leicester City's victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford saw City's triumph confirmed

Leicester City's victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford saw City's triumph confirmed

'He got more bodies in midfield to control the pace of the game, and not make it like a basketball game, up and down. 

'It was more about possession and strangling the life out of teams. They've dominated the league this year.'

City's credentials were confirmed with three fixtures remaining this campaign and are a result of a formidable run of 15 consecutive top-flight wins.

They have now lifted five of the last 10 league titles and the winning feeling saw Ferdinand reflect back on his first taste of success in the division at United.

City pieced together a formidable 15-game winning streak and cruised home to take the title

City pieced together a formidable 15-game winning streak and cruised home to take the title

The former centre back recalled his memories celebrating wildly at his home after Arsenal surrendered in the title race following a defeat to Leeds in May 2003.  

'My first league championship win, I won it in my front room. I was sat there,' Ferdinand said. 'All the lads were texting in the groups, watching the game. 

'My former team Leeds beat Arsenal at Highbury. The goal does in, the game's over, I was running down the street bare-footed going crazy. 

'Within half an hour, I was in a bar in Manchester with the rest of my team-mates going crazy. 

'They're all great to win. Doing it without the pressure and the rollercoaster of emotions, that's the easiest way to win it.' 

He went on to add that City's exploits over the last decade have been 'ridiculous'. 

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