Jamie Carragher picked Eddie Howe over Pep Guardiola for his Manager of the Season as he feels their qualification for the Champions League is more unexpected than a potential Manchester City treble.
City were confirmed as Premier League champions on Saturday, with Arsenal's 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest leaving them unable to close what was a four-point gap. Pep Guardiola's side extended their lead to seven with a comfortable win at home to Chelsea on Sunday, with the trophy lift following.
Trips to Brighton and Brentford close out the league campaign before FA Cup and Champions League finals against Manchester United and Inter Milan respectively hand Guardiola his chance to land an illustrious treble.
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Howe's Newcastle confirmed their top-four finish with a 0-0 draw against Leicester City on Monday, booking a place in the Champions League for the first time since the 2002/2003 campaign. The Magpies have enjoyed a brilliant first full season under new ownership, exceeding all realistic expectations.
"It was either Eddie Howe or Pep Guardiola," Carragher told Sky Sports of his Manager of the Season pick. "And I think we all probably feel that Pep will go on and win the treble - how can you go against that?
"My only reason I went for Eddie Howe was because I feel Man City have been in a position to almost win a treble most years. They get to March and April - obviously it’s really difficult to do that and they just falter in something.
"Whereas I just can’t believe what happened last season to this season with Newcastle in terms of where they were when Eddie Howe came in to where they are now - Champions League football. I actually felt there was more chance of Man City doing a treble, if you like, than Newcastle being in the Champions League next season. That’s why I’ve gone for Eddie Howe."
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