Manchester City beat Fulham but ended the season with no major trophy for the first time since 2017.
Manchester City finished their Premier League season with a 2-0 win at Craven Cottage, but the victory only covered up what has been a frustrating campaign. For the first time since 2017, Pep Guardiola’s side failed to lift a major trophy.
The opening goal came in style. Ilkay Gundogan, now 34, scored a brilliant bicycle kick in the 21st minute after Bernd Leno failed to hold Matheus Nunes’ cross. The ball bounced off the bar and into the net, ending Gundogan’s long goal drought in the league.
Fulham reacted quickly, trying to fight back. Harry Wilson forced a big save from Ederson, while Andreas Pereira came close on the rebound but hit the side netting.
However, City didn’t lose control of the match. They doubled their lead before halftime when Gundogan won a penalty after being fouled by Jorge Cuenca. Erling Haaland stepped up and calmly converted from the spot.
The win marked their 18th straight victory over Fulham and confirmed Fulham’s 12th-place finish, following a poor second half of the season with 10 losses.
A Season Ends with Questions, Not Glory
Even with a 10-game unbeaten streak to close the league season, City’s struggles were clear. They finished a full 13 points behind title winners Liverpool, a major drop for a team used to dominating. What was supposed to be a historic fifth straight league title run ended quietly.
Pep Guardiola’s men still secured Champions League qualification, but they also suffered 16 losses across all competitions — the worst in a season since 2008/09.
There’s also uncertainty in the squad. Kevin De Bruyne only came on for the final minutes and could be saying goodbye. Jack Grealish wasn’t even named on the bench, raising fresh doubts about his future with the club.
Another talking point was the history made on the pitch. This game became only the third Premier League fixture ever where no English player started on either side — a rare and surprising stat.
Now, talks of a summer shake-up are growing louder. With ageing players in midfield and star names facing injuries or possible exits, City looks like a team in need of fresh ideas and hungry legs.
Despite the strong finish and a trip to the USA next month for the Club World Cup, City fans will know this campaign fell below expectations. The champions of recent years now look like a team ready for changes — and big ones at that.
As Guardiola’s contract slowly runs toward 2026, even his future will remain a hot topic. What’s clear is that the club needs to find a new spark — and quickly.
