MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― In a city more accustomed to a sea of red during title celebrations, blue confetti fell over the streets.
Manchester City paraded the Premier League trophy before about 100,000 fans Monday in celebration of its first English title in 44 years. Blue and white ticker-tape and streamers rained down on the team bus as City players displayed the trophy they had wrested from crosstown rival Manchester United a day earlier.
Fans climbed lampposts and jostled for position on roof tops and walls. Fathers held children on their shoulders to catch a glimpse of the City players aboard an open-top bus.
“Days like this are why we came to City and it’s just fantastic,” said City midfielder Gareth Barry, one of many high-priced players who joined the team in the last few years after it was bought up by wealthy Abu Dhabi owners. “Our fans have always been amazing and they’re showing it here today. I’ve got memories I’ll treasure for the rest of my career.”
While the revelry was in full force in Manchester’s main square, United’s dejected players were arriving at an unusually solemn end-of-season dinner ― a clear picture of just how much the soccer landscape has changed in this northwest city.
United, though, came oh so close to being the team celebrating.
When the game clock hit 90 minutes at City on Sunday, it appeared United would be keeping the Premier League trophy.
United was leading 1-0 at Sunderland and City, which had only to match United’s result to win, was losing 2-1 to Queens Park Rangers.
It all changed in two, breathtaking minutes in stoppage time at City.
Edin Dzeko headed in City’s equalizer in the second additional minute and then, after United’s game had just finished at Sunderland and the podium was being prepared for the trophy presentation, Sergio Aguero produced a title-winning goal for City.
“One moment you think you’ve won the title,” United striker Wayne Rooney said Monday night at the club’s awards’ dinner. “It’s heartbreaking for all.”
Not for fans in the blue half of Manchester, who have spent most of their lives in the shadow of their more illustrious neighbor, but now finally have reason to hope for their own dynasty.
“It’s been an emotional roller coaster,” City fan John Wilkinson said. “My son was upset yesterday because he thought we lost and he would have go into school and face the United fans.
“I have followed City since the early 90s so when it went 2-1 I was really down and thought we had blown it. I can’t put into words what this means.”
And there’s no reason to think City’s successes will end here.
After enduring relegations and financial chaos while United won 12 of the last 19 English titles, the “noisy neighbors” derided by Ferguson have used their newfound wealth to overtake United as the country’s top club.
An unprecedented $1 billion has been spent by Abu Dhabi’s Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan overhauling the City squad since he bought the club three years ago.
Meanwhile, a more frugal approach exists at Old Trafford, where United’s moneymaking might is not always reflected in the cash spent strengthening the squad.
That’s unlikely to change even after this setback, since Ferguson insists he doesn’t need to spend millions to improve the team.
“We know City will spend fortunes, stupid money and pay silly salaries and all that,” Ferguson said. “We will look at we can do and attract players here for the right reasons.”
City still has a long way to go to match the overall success of United, which missed out on a 20th English title on Sunday while City collected its third.
“The history of our club stands us aside,” Ferguson said. “We don’t need to worry about that. I think we have a rich history, better than anyone and it’ll take them a century to get to our level of history.”
But the City trophy cabinet could start filling quickly in the coming years, the club likely to target the Champions League title next season as well.
“I hope City will become a great club in the world,” midfielder Yaya Toure said.
It remains to be seen whether Carlos Tevez will be part of the team’s future, however, as the Argentina striker spent much of the season away from the team after falling out with manager Roberto Mancini. He was eventually welcomed back and helped the club erase an eight-point deficit to United in the standings over the final months.
When it was his turn to celebrate on Monday, he couldn’t help but taunt Ferguson a bit extra, having left United in 2009 after struggling to find enough playing time.
Tevez was caught on camera on City’s open-top bus raising a placard that said, “R.I.P. Fergie,” a clear message that he thinks the successful era of his former manager is now over.
However, the 70-year-old Ferguson said he has no plans to surrender to City.
