MANCHESTER – In a haze of blue smoke produced by fans, Manchester City's team buses were serenaded into their stadium with chants of “Champions.” They proved premature.
There was still a game — closed to crowds due to the pandemic — to be won. And Chelsea came from behind to win 2-1 on Saturday and prevent City from clinching a third English title in four seasons and dethroning Liverpool.
City's time will surely come, with three games still to get over the line in the Premier League. The celebrations could even come on Sunday if Manchester United, 13 points adrift of its neighbor, loses at Aston Villa.
Losing to Chelsea has become annoyingly familiar for City manager Pep Guardiola after seeing the quadruple bid ended by an FA Cup semifinal