Pep Guardiola revealed his newly-crowned champions overcame huge hangovers after their title celebrations.
Manchester City boss Guardiola left them to sweat out the booze in the sauna on Monday morning before they played their part in one of the best games of the season at Brighton.
Brighton secured their place in next season’s Europa League with a wonder goal from Julio Enciso to give City another headache after their partying excesses. Guardiola, who said Jack Grealish was not even fit enough to travel to the South Coast after the celebrations, admitted: “It was 40 hours after we drank all the alcohol in Manchester!
“At 10.30pm I was in bed with my wife because I was exhausted, I watched Match of the Day and slept like a baby. The players did what they have to do, when you win the Premier League you have to celebrate.
"Next morning was sauna time and the day after we talked a bit in the afternoon about having energy in Brighton and we did.”
City definitely defied any weary legs and sore heads as they went toe-to-toe with Brighton in what has also become a love-in between the two managers. There is huge mutual respect. Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has built something special at the Amex and led the club into Europe for the first time in their history.
Guardiola said: “The way Brighton played is outstanding. They go aggressive man-to-man. I enjoyed it a lot, especially being champion. They’re a fantastic team. We also showed why we are the No1 team.”
Brighton’s players formed a guard of honour for City before kick-off but that was where the niceties ended because both teams went hell for leather in what was a brilliant advert for the Premier League.
It was fast, furious and unforgiving. It even ended with controversy as Guardiola was shown a yellow card for complaining after Erling Haaland had a late effort ruled out after a VAR check for a shirt pull on Brighton defender Levi Colwill.
Brighton had 20 shots against City which was the most of any opponent against the champions this season as the previous best was 13. City have also got two finals next month with all eyes on the Treble but you would never have guessed it.
City took a 25th minute lead when Haaland sprang the offside trap, raced through, was held up by Steele but unselfishly squared it for Phil Foden to score.
Brighton then produced their entry for Goal of the Season after 38 minutes. It started from the back as keeper Jason Steele started the 12 man move, Colwill provided the assist and then Enciso smashed a 25 yard shot into the top corner.
Even the travelling City fans behind the goal applauded. Enciso has a habit for the spectacular, having scored another belter at Chelsea last month. Sadly, maybe the shot took it out of him as he was soon stretching out his hamstring and had to be replaced early in the second half.
Haaland thought he won it in the dying minutes when he headed in substitute Cole Palmer’s cross but the Norway striker saw it ruled out.
De Zerbi added: ”Man City is the best team in the world I think. For us it was a very tough game. We deserve the point. we deserve the Europa League."
And a draw was just about the right result.
