Manchester City secured a third-place finish in the 2024/25 Premier League after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Fulham on the final day of the season — a result that ensured their return to the UEFA Champions League next term.
However, this win only masked what has been a disappointing campaign for Pep Guardiola’s side, who failed to win a major trophy for the first time since 2017.
The reigning champions entered the season chasing an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title, but finished a full 13 points behind winners Liverpool, marking a clear decline from their recent dominance.
City controlled the match from kickoff at Craven Cottage, taking the lead on 21 minutes through a spectacular bicycle kick from Ilkay Gundogan.
The German midfielder, now 34, reacted instinctively when Fulham keeper Bernd Leno parried Matheus Nunes’ cross into his path, smashing the ball in via the crossbar to break his Premier League goal drought this season.
Fulham responded positively, with Harry Wilson drawing a fine full-stretch save from Ederson.
Andreas Pereira was close on the rebound but only found the side-netting.
Despite these moments of resistance, Fulham couldn’t keep up the pressure, and City doubled their lead before halftime. Erling Haaland calmly converted from the penalty spot after Jorge Cuenca brought down Gundogan in the area.
The win marked City’s 18th consecutive victory over Fulham, underlining the dominance Guardiola’s men hold over the West London club. The result also condemned Fulham to a 12th-place finish, having lost 10 times in the second half of the season.
This fixture also made history in a unique way — it was only the third Premier League match ever not to feature an English player in either starting XI, joining Portsmouth v Arsenal (2009) and Arsenal v Chelsea (2019) in that rare statistic.
Despite ending the campaign with a 10-match unbeaten run, City’s season raises major questions.
They won the Community Shield in August, but by their high standards, the absence of silverware is a glaring failure.
The squad suffered 16 defeats in all competitions, their most in a single campaign since the 2008/09 season.
Whispers of a summer rebuild are growing louder. Club talisman Kevin De Bruyne — who played the final five minutes — may have worn the City shirt for the last time.
Meanwhile, Jack Grealish was left out of the matchday squad entirely, casting fresh doubt over his future at the Etihad.
Manager Pep Guardiola, whose own future beyond 2026 remains uncertain, is facing the challenge of reshaping a team that looks like it has lost some of its edge.
Ageing midfielders like Gundogan, unpredictable injury spells for stars like De Bruyne and Grealish, and questions about squad hunger could force major decisions at board level.
Far from the days of invincibility, City now look like a team at a crossroads. Yet, they still boast world-class talent and tactical brilliance — qualities that secured them Champions League football in a fiercely competitive league.
City’s season is not over yet. They will be heading to the United States in June for the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, where they’ll begin their campaign against Wydad AC of Morocco in Philadelphia on June 18.
As one chapter potentially closes with aging stars possibly on their way out, City fans will hope the summer brings a refreshing rebuild — one that can restore their status as England’s dominant force.
