City Secure Champions League Return with Fulham Victory

The Blues wrapped up their season with a crucial victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, ensuring our rightful place among Europe's elite once again. While this campaign hasn't delivered the silverware we've grown accustomed to, securing third spot and Champions League qualification was absolutely essential.

What a contrast this year has been from our unprecedented four consecutive title triumphs. To finish 13 points adrift of Liverpool stings, no question about it. This marks the first time since 2017 we've concluded a season empty-handed in terms of major honours, but context matters here – we've set standards so high that anything less than perfection feels like failure.

The early exchanges at Craven Cottage showcased vintage City football. We controlled proceedings from the off, pressing high and moving the ball with our trademark precision. When Ilkay Gündoğan unleashed that spectacular overhead kick on 21 minutes, it felt like a moment of redemption for the veteran German. Matheus Nunes' delivery from the right found its way to Gündoğan via Bernd Leno's parry, and the midfielder's athletic finish – crashing down off the crossbar – was absolutely sublime.

Credit where it's due to Marco Silva's Fulham side, they didn't roll over. Harry Wilson's dipping effort forced a magnificent fingertip save from Ederson, stretching every sinew to keep it out. Andreas Pereira couldn't capitalise on the rebound, dragging his effort into the side-netting when better positioned.

The second half brought more City dominance. Joško Gvardiol's point-blank header was brilliantly saved by Leno, but our persistence paid off when Jorge Cuenca's clumsy challenge on Gündoğan presented Erling Haaland with a penalty. The Norwegian made no mistake, as he rarely does from twelve yards.

Fulham's resistance crumbled after that, their tenth defeat since January telling its own story about their second-half-of-season struggles. Twelfth place flatters nobody at that club.

Historically speaking, this fixture carried unusual significance – only the third Premier League match ever contested without a single English player in either starting XI. A sign of the times, perhaps, though not necessarily a negative one given the global talent on display.

The Community Shield triumph in August now feels like a distant memory. Eight years without claiming meaningful silverware was unthinkable until this season arrived like a cold slap of reality. Pep faces arguably his biggest summer rebuild since arriving at the Etihad.

Kevin De Bruyne's five-minute cameo felt symbolic – his final contribution in sky blue. Meanwhile, Jack Grealish's exclusion from the matchday squad speaks volumes about his current standing. These are decisions that will define our trajectory moving forward.

The 18th consecutive victory over Fulham never looked in serious jeopardy, despite the stakes involved. Our superior quality shone through across ninety minutes, even if the urgency wasn't always apparent.

Gündoğan's moment of magic deserves further recognition. At 34, questions surround his future, but that acrobatic finish – his first league goal this term after 26 failed attempts – demonstrated the class remains permanently etched into his boots. Only his third goal across all competitions this season, yet it arrived precisely when required.

Sixteen defeats represent our highest tally since 2008-09, a statistic that doesn't sit comfortably. However, concluding with ten games unbeaten provides encouragement heading into the summer break. The expanded Club World Cup awaits in the United States, with Wydad AC our opening opponents in Philadelphia on 18 June.

European football's premier competition beckons once more. For a club of our ambitions and resources, Champions League participation isn't a bonus – it's a bare minimum requirement. Mission accomplished, but the real work starts now.