And for the second year in a row, they ran out of puff after winning the Premier League.
Last year they still had enough to get past United in the FA Cup Final and then drag themselves to Champions League glory in Istanbul.
This time they had the chances in the second half to win a double Double but could not recover from a sleepwalking start that gave Erik Ten Hag some polish for a poor United campaign.
There was anger from the players and manager at Wembley, followed by disappointment. This is a team that has been defined by hating losing so much that they go on inconceivably long winning or unbeaten runs to avoid those feelings; it was 35 games before Saturday.
That has driven Pep Guardiola and the players to unprecedented success, becoming the first team in English football to win four Premier League titles in a row. That is always the bread and butter, the standard that City aspire to every year to win the right over 38 matches to be called the best in the country; as the manager said after Community Shield defeat to Arsenal in August: "We lost three in a row! But we won the Premier Leagues."
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 27, 2024-Ausgabe von Manchester Evening News.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 27, 2024-Ausgabe von Manchester Evening News.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
I've gone from this kid with a dream to singing for the Pope
SCOTTISH SINGER EMELI SANDÉ REFLECTS ON RECONNECTING WITH HER ROOTS AND TAKING CONTROL OF HER MUSIC THROUGH STARTING HER OWN LABEL.
'Annoyed' Blues boss is 'obsessively' working to halt a dismal run of form
PEP Guardiola is 'annoyed' and 'obsessively' looking for a solution to City's drastic drop in form.
Coe has appetite for change in IOC
LONDON 2012 GURU IS OUT TO REFORM OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
Hospice funding help is welcomed
HOSPICES in England have welcomed a multimillion funding boost but the Government has been accused of “giving with one hand and taking with the other” amid costs caused by a national insurance rise.
Starmer backs Siddiq
SIR Keir Starmer has backed Tulip Siddiq, Downing Street indicated, after the Treasury minister was named in an anti-corruption investigation in Bangladesh.
'Uncertainty' is cause of rate freeze
THE Bank of England has held interest rates at 4.75% due to “heightened uncertainty in the economy” following the UK Budget and US presidential election.
The art of connecting with nature
I will always insist that getting outdoors is the best way to engage with the amazing nature we have in Manchester.
Drug dealer lived high life before arrest
A DRUG dealer who enjoyed luxury holidays in Dubai with his ill-gotten gains was caught out after being stopped in the street by police.
100mph racer killed England youth footballer
A 'BOY racer' who reached speeds of almost 100mph at an unauthorised car meet later struck and killed a budding young footballer.
Charity calls for inquiry into GMP use of Traveller dispersal order
A CHARITY representing Romani Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller communities has brought an official complaint against Greater Manchester Police following the force’s controversial use of a dispersal order.