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Manchester City won their sixth title in 11 seasons on Sunday by scoring three times in five minutes to come from behind to beat Villa and avoid being knocked out of the title race.
City was behind 2-0 to Villa until the 76th. Two minutes later, Rodri equalized, and then G-FC;ndo;an put City in front in the 81st.
Even though City was losing, it was still going to defend the title as it was only drawing with Wolves. If City hadn't fought back at the Etihad Stadium, it would have taken the Reds into first place. Andy Robertson sealed the win for the Reds.
City would have lost the trophy if they had conceded a late goal.
When City had a 14-point lead in January, it was thought that the defense of the trophy would be easy, but it was not.
It was the first title for the Spaniard, who had four in five seasons. It is the first time that City has won the title in front of its own fans.
This one came without any of the angst of 10 years ago when City only won the title in the final minutes of the season.
That success, which produced City's first championship crown in 44 years, ushered in the era of dominance enjoyed by a club transformed by the influx of investment from Abu Dhabi.
It used to be that City had to watch United sweep up titles under Alex Ferguson. The rise of City coincides with the decline of Manchester United and the retirement of the Scot who won 13 times in a row.
The teams entered the final round on Sunday with City 32 points ahead of United and with the greater threat to their side. In the last five seasons, only one time did City not win the trophy.
It will be another season with City unable to win the biggest prize in European football, the European Championship, whileLiverpool will play in the final on May 28.
In the last five years, City has spent more than $500 million on transfers.
The financial might of City wasn't enough to convince Spurs to sell Harry Kane. Jack Grealish was signed by City for 100 million pounds, breaking the British transfer record.
The signing of Erling Haaland, one of Europe's most exciting young forwards, will add to City's attack for next season.
Concerns remain for human rights activists and less wealthy rivals about the club's ownership and actions.
City fans overlook the fact that their club has been used by a state as a tool of soft power that exploits the glamor of the world's biggest sport to cleanse its image.
During his 14 years as owner, Sheikh Mansour has only been to one game. The British government condemned the host of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
The club was fined 10 million dollars in 2020 for obstructing a probe into its finances. The club's two-year ban from the playoffs was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport because it was found that the club hid its source of income from the authorities.
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