MANCHESTER, England - The songs and the chanting started well before the final whistle. After it blew, Manchester City fans set of blue flares and streamed onto the field by the thousands. And it would not be long before manager Manuel Pellegrini was tossed in the air by his jubilant players.
Needing far less drama than 2 years ago, City won the Premier League for the second time in three seasons yesterday with a 2-0 victory over West Ham.
City won behind goals from Samir Nasri and captain Vincent Kompany, meaning Liverpool's 2-1 win over Newcastle at Anfield was meaningless and City finished two points above the Merseyside club.
"It was my first season in the Premier League and I had to change a lot of things," Pellegrini said. "It's amazing we are here after just one year."
For a club that has spent so much time in the shadow of United - last year's champion - this was just the fourth time in City's 134-year history that fans could celebrate a league title.
In 2012, City won the title on goal difference ahead of neighbor Manchester United after coming from behind to beat Queens Park Rangers on the final day.
"You can't repeat what happened last time," City goalkeeper Joe Hart said. "This year, we've really come on strong at the end when we needed to."