Comment: Manchester City on brink of becoming greatest team in English football history

HERE WE GO, FOUR IN A ROW: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during the Premier League match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.  Photo credit: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

Whisper it if you are anywhere near Old Trafford or Anfield, but Manchester City are on the verge of becoming the greatest team in the history of English football by doing something not even Sir Alex Ferguson has achieved.

No team has ever won four league titles in a row, but that opportunity is now open to Pep Guardiola’s side after a victory at Tottenham that puts them in control of the title race with an opportunity to underline their era-defining quality.

City arrived in north London having lost four times in a row at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a freakish fact that gave Arsenal supporters hope. But Erling Haaland’s two goals leave City top, with a chance to complete four in a row should they beat West Ham at home on Sunday. That’s something which really would spark a debate about their position on football’s all-time ladder, too.

It’s never easy to judge teams across different ages, but eras of dominance tell a story about the quality of the very best; and City come out well in that analysis.

Liverpool won four titles in five seasons in the 1980s when they were at their most dominant (losing out to Everton in 1985) and Aston Villa achieved a similar feat way back in the 1890s.

United, of course, won it three times in a row between1999 and 2001 and achieved the same feat again in 2007-2009, finishing only one point behind Chelsea in 2010.

But that four in a row has proved impossible for even the greatest of teams and the most legendary of managers, including Sir Alex Ferguson.

So, if Pep does clinch yet another victory on Sunday we may even have to begin the biggest debate of all: is he now closing in on Ferguson’s crown as the greatest manager in English football history?

It won’t be an easy argument to win, given Ferguson’s incredible record over such a long period of time (28 major trophies between 1986 and 2013 at Old Trafford).

But should City be crowned champions on the final day it will be six Premier League titles in eight seasons for Guardiola, plus a Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup, four Carabao Cups and two FA Cups (with another final, against United, still to come this season).

His Premier League record as Manchester City manager after this victory in north London now reads Played 304, Won 224, Drawn 41, Lost 38 – and he’s only 53 years old.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager needed all his coaching nous gained over that time to guide City to a win that sets up a dramatic final day of the campaign.

The first half in north London was cagey and awkward, played out in a strange atmosphere as Tottenham supporters held back, wary of cheering this side to a victory that would benefit deadly rivals Arsenal.

But Tottenham nevertheless did an impressive job in keeping City quiet, with goalkeeper Vicario on hand on the rare occasions when City threatened, and the home team looking dangerous on the break.

City goalkeeper Ederson had to make two smart saves to keep his side on level terms, and it took a Guardiola rant a half-time to turn things around.

It was clear from his body language that the City manager, who had started the day looking relaxed, was not impressed with the opening 45 minutes; but, of course, he has experienced it all before and rarely seen his side fail to respond when prodded.

So, it was no surprise when Kevn De Bruyne tested Vicario only a minute into the second half, signalling that his side would not be denied the opportunity to add to their remarkable trophy tally. And no shock, either, when Erling Haaland walked the ball into the net after 52 minutes following De Bruyne’s perfect low cross.

Arsenal hearts must have sunk at that point; but in truth most Gunners fans would have been watching the match with hope rather than genuine belief that Spurs would do their title hopes a massive favour; and there were few pundits who predicted anything other than a City victory.

The only complication for the champions was losing Kevin De Bruyne to injury (although it didn’t look serious) and being forced to substitute goalkeeper Ederson after he appeared to be concussed by a challenge from Romero.

The prospect of facing West Ham without that influential pair is a concern, and perhaps will give Arsenal hope as they take on Everton at the Emirates this weekend.

But the overriding feeling after City held out at Spurs, defending their lead despite some nervy moments, was that the momentum, the experience and even the luck lies with the current champions. Especially after substitute goalkeeper Stefan Ortega somehow kept out Heung-min Son when the forward was completely free on goal.

Guardiola collapsed on the floor at that moment, but he’ll be back standing tall on Sunday after Haaland added a late penalty to spark celebrations in the away end and send City to the summit, two points clear with a game to play.

Four in a row is now within City’s grasp, and with it the right to ask if they, and their manager, should be seen as the best of all time.