LONDON – Manchester City‘s class of 2022/23 has etched their names in the annals of English football history, making a strong case to be ranked as the country’s greatest ever team after their triumphant Champions League victory against Inter Milan.
In a tense 1-0 final in Istanbul on Saturday, City became only the second English club, after their cross-town rivals Manchester United, to secure the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles in a single season.
While Pep Guardiola‘s stars have certainly made a compelling argument, they are not the only team deserving of this prestigious honor.
The treble-winning Manchester United squad of 1998/99, Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ from the 2003/04 season, and Liverpool’s legends from the 1980s all hold rightful claims in this captivating debate.
City’s credentials are backed by an astonishing array of statistics.
They emerged victorious in 44 out of 60 games across all competitions this season, securing a hat-trick of Premier League titles and their fifth in six seasons.
With contemptuous ease, City overcame Arsenal’s eight-point lead in the title race, ultimately finishing five points clear on 89 points.
The brilliance of Guardiola’s men is reflected in their goal-scoring prowess, having netted a staggering 150 goals in all competitions—the highest tally among teams in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
Erling Haaland, the standout performer with a remarkable 52-goal haul in his debut season, including a single-season Premier League record of 36 goals, grabbed the headlines.
However, City’s success is a result of collective efforts.
In the historic Champions League final against Inter Milan, it was the unlikely heroics of Rodri that sealed the victory in Istanbul.
Man City also relied on goalkeeper Ederson, who produced crucial saves throughout the campaign.
Last weekend, Ilkay Gundogan’s double secured the FA Cup, while Kevin De Bruyne’s performances have consistently stood out during Guardiola’s illustrious seven-year tenure.
Now, the question remains—how do the other contenders measure up against City in the quest to be crowned the best of the best?
MANCHESTER UNITED 98/99
Manchester United‘s treble-winning team of 1998/99, powered by the ‘Class of 92’ academy graduates including David Beckham, Paul Scholes, and Gary Neville, boasted a formidable squad featuring Roy Keane, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, and Jaap Stam.
The Red Devils clinched the 1998-99 Premier League title on the final day, defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Old Trafford to finish one point ahead of Arsenal on 79 points.
They also triumphed over Arsenal in an unforgettable FA Cup semi-final before securing the trophy against Newcastle in the final.
However, their crowning glory came in a remarkable comeback against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
Goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the dying seconds at the Camp Nou prompted an exhausted and overjoyed Sir Alex Ferguson to exclaim, “Football, bloody hell!”
ARSENAL’S ‘INVINCIBLES’
If Manchester United’s treble-winning season was a thrilling rollercoaster, Arsenal‘s unbeaten ‘Invincibles’ of the 2003-04 season were the epitome of consistency and quality.
Under the guidance of Arsene Wenger, Arsenal won 26 and drew 12 of their 38 league matches, capturing the Premier League title with an 11-point lead.
They became only the second English team, after Preston in 1888/89, to complete a top-flight campaign undefeated.
Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, and Robert Pires dazzled with their elegant style of play, while Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell provided the team with strength and resilience.
“To remain unbeaten in a championship like the England now is really unbelievable,” Wenger commented.
Despite their remarkable achievements, the Arsenal side suffered an unexpected Champions League quarter-final exit to Chelsea and bowed out in the FA Cup semi-finals against Manchester United.
LIVERPOOL 83/84
In the midst of their dominance over English football in the 1970s and 1980s, Liverpool‘s finest vintage arguably emerged in the 1983-84 season.
Under the leadership of Joe Fagan, Liverpool secured the league title with a comfortable 13-point margin, winning 22 matches and losing only six in a 42-game schedule.
The team featured stalwarts such as Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, Graeme Souness, and Alan Hansen, and their success extended beyond the league.
Liverpool defeated Everton in the League Cup final before triumphing over Roma in the European Cup final, held at the Stadio Olimpico, to complete a treble.
It’s worth noting that this was Liverpool’s fourth European crown in eight years, accompanied by their third consecutive top-flight title.
City’s next challenge is to establish a European dynasty that rivals the accomplishments of Liverpool four decades ago.
“You have to win in Europe to be considered a great team, and we did it,” proclaimed Guardiola.
“I don’t want to disappear after one Champions League. We have to work hard next season and be there.”
As the debate rages on about which team can be crowned as English football’s greatest ever, Manchester City’s class of 2022/23 have certainly etched their names into the discussion with an outstanding season that will be remembered for years to come.
