Mauricio Pochettino may have enjoyed a meal with Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly ahead of a 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday that secured European football next season, but the Blues boss said he was no closer to knowing about his long-term future at Stamford Bridge. Victory at home to the Cherries on the final day of the Premier League season, in part secured by Moses Caicedo’s stunning goal from the halfway line, ensured Pochettino’s debut campaign as Chelsea manager finished with the Blues in sixth place.

Now the only issue for Chelsea, after a season away from European competition, is whether an FA Cup final victory for Manchester United over Manchester City at Wembley on May 25 will drop the London club from the Europa League into the Conference League.

Pochettino had been expecting to meet with Chelsea chiefs at the end of the campaign to review the season but the 52-year-old Argentine said Sunday: “I don’t know if (the meeting) is going to happen or not.

“On Friday night Todd invited me for dinner. It was a very nice dinner together.

“I don’t know about the rumours about the review. My staff tomorrow are flying (on holiday). Maybe tonight if (club bosses) decide another thing or tell us to stay, (otherwise) they’ll go for a holiday.

“I’m going to stay a few days more in London. My door is always open and my phone is going to be on.”

Nevertheless, Pochettino took some comfort from dining with Boehly.

“If I invite you alone, and you and me have a dinner, it’s not for a bad thing. If I need to tell you something, I call to go for a coffee, not for a dinner.”

Chelsea’s secured a fifth win in a row in the league by beating Bournemouth, a further sign of the progress being made by a youthful squad under former Tottenham manager Pochettino’s guidance.

Raheem Sterling doubled Chelsea’s lead after half-time, and although Bournemouth pulled a goal back when Enes Unal‘s strike deflected in for an own-goal off Benoit Badiashile, the Blues hung on.

“Always you can improve,” said Pochettino. “They’re going to be much better next season. They’re going to have one year experience, tough experience. That’s the advantage of being solid and consistent and not too many changes.

“If next season we keep 80, 85 percent of the squad, for sure it’s a big step forward. It’s about having continuity in the ideas, and the knowledge between (the players).”

Pep Guardiola cast doubt over his long-term future at Manchester City on Sunday after winning a historic fourth straight Premier League title, admitting it is difficult to find motivation after so much sustained success. City’s 3-1 victory against West Ham sealed a sixth top-flight title in seven seasons under the Catalan, who has taken the club to extraordinary new levels since he arrived in 2016. His tally is exceeded only by Alex Ferguson, who won 13 Premier League titles during his long reign at Manchester United.

In 2019 City became the first club to win the domestic treble of Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup in the same season and last year they emulated Manchester United’s class of 1999 in winning the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, which they lifted for the first time.

City are now the first side in English top-flight history to win four titles in a row — surpassing the achievements of the great Liverpool and Manchester United teams from previous eras.

And next week they will attempt to become the first English side to win back to back domestic doubles when they take on United at Wembley in the FA Cup final.

Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager Guardiola, 53, has a contract at the Etihad until the end of next season but his future after that is unclear.

“The reality is I’m closer to leaving than to staying,” Guardiola told Sky Sports. “It’s eight years, will be nine.

“Right now my feeling is I want to stay next season. We talked with the club, we have time to talk next season because I have to see the players as well (to see) if they follow me, they follow us, for many reasons. I will stay and during the season we will talk when calm.”

Asked at his post-match press conference whether he felt as though he had “completed English football” and what he felt was left to achieve, Guardiola shrugged his shoulders and said: “I had that feeling last season.

“When we won in Istanbul (in the Champions League final) I said, ‘It’s over, what am I doing here? It’s over, there’s nothing left’.

“But I have a contract, I’m here and still enjoying. Some of the moments I’m a bit tired but some of the moments I love, and after I said ‘OK, we are here’.

“We start winning games, playing good, different players, new players and I start to think about ‘No one has done four in a row, why don’t we try?’ And now I feel ‘It’s done, so what next?’ I don’t know right now.”

He added: “Next season, right now, I’m not able to know exactly what will be the motivation to do it because it’s difficult sometimes to find it when everything is done.”

Guardiola said for now he was enjoying basking in the glow of another Premier League triumph.

“When I moved here if someone had said I would win six leagues in seven seasons I would say you’re insane — no way,” he said.

Arsenal’s dreams of a first Premier League crown in 20 years were dashed as their 2-1 win against Everton was rendered irrelevant by Manchester City’s title-clinching victory over West Ham. Mikel Arteta‘s side had gone into the last day of the season needing to beat Everton at the Emirates Stadium and hope City drew or lost in Manchester if they were to steal the title in miraculous fashion. But the Gunners were forced to settle for second place after relentless champions City beat West Ham 3-1.

Idrissa Gueye put Everton in front late in the first half before Takehiro Tomiyasu quickly equalised.

By the time Kai Havertz scored Arsenal’s winner in the 89th minute, City were already well on course to retain the title.

In a post-match speech to Arsenal fans, a visibly emotional Arteta said: “This team are unbelievable. You started this by believing in us. Please keep pushing, keep inspiring them. 

“Don’t be sad. We want much more than that and we’re going to get it.”

Arsenal had been almost flawless in 2024, with 16 wins and one draw, away to City, in their 18 league matches.

However, one costly slip-up in a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa last month proved decisive in denying them a first title since Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ in 2004.

They finished two points behind City, who have won an unprecedented four successive titles and six in the last seven years.

Arsenal staff were seen rehearsing a mock title presentation at the Emirates on Saturday, complete with replicas of the trophy and medals, as well as signs emblazoned with the slogan ‘Premier League champions’.

But there would be no genuine title party in north London as Arteta’s heart-broken players were forced to accept their fate.

Arsenal fans had strolled down the sun-baked Holloway Road towards the Emirates more in hope than expectation of seeing a title-winning team.

Some even wore West Ham shirts rather their own club’s in a nod to the favour required from their London rivals 200 miles to the north.

A raucous rendition of the club’s ‘North London forever’ anthem before kick-off took the atmosphere to fever pitch.

Silence in stands

Despite the absence of injured star Bukayo Saka, Arsenal should have been ahead in the opening moments when Tomiyasu nodded wide from close-range.

However at that exact second, the mood went completely flat as news filtered through of Phil Foden‘s second minute opener for City.

A resigned hush settled over the sell-out 60,000 crowd, but Arsenal did their best to refocus.

Foden’s second goal in the 18th minute rendered the Arsenal faithful mute as Everton fans taunted them with chants of “you nearly won the league”.

Everton took the lead in the 40th minute when Gueye’s free-kick took a wicked deflection off Declan Rice‘s head as he jumped to block the ball, looping past wrong-footed Arsenal keeper David Raya into the far corner.

To their credit, the Gunners refused to surrender, equalising just three minutes later when Tomiyasu met Martin Odegaard‘s pass with a fine finish that whistled past Jordan Pickford from just inside the area.

Arsenal fans let out a defiant roar when they heard Mohammed Kudus had reduced the deficit for West Ham late in the first half.

They were briefly celebrating again after a false rumour spread that West Ham had equalised.

Dragged from despair to hope and back again within seconds, Arsenal were four points behind City in the ‘as it stands’ table at half-time.

Arsenal’s players gathered in a huddle as they prepared to make one final push in the second half, but Havertz wasted two chances to give them life, nodding wide and then heading against the bar.

Rodri‘s 59th minute goal for City was met with silence in the Emirates stands.

And when Havertz stabbed home in the closing stages, Arsenal had already come to terms with the end of their title hopes.

Kyle Walker of Manchester City lifts the Premier League Trophy after their team’s victory over West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on May 19, 2024 in Manchester, England.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Manchester City created English football history on May 19, overcoming West Ham 3-1 to win their fourth straight Premier League title and break Arsenal’s hearts as Jurgen Klopp made an emotional Liverpool exit.

Phil Foden scored two early goals at an expectant Etihad to put his side on the brink of the title before Mohammed Kudus pulled one back with a spectacular overhead kick. But Rodri struck just before the hour to restore City’s two-goal cushion and the home side rarely looked troubled as they coasted to the win.

Arsenal started the day two points behind their rivals and praying for a miracle to deny City their coronation, knowing that a win against Everton would not be enough if the champions won on home turf.

The Gunners, without a Premier League title since 2004, came from a goal down to beat Everton 2-1 but had to content themselves with second in the table for a second straight season.

City, who have now won six titles in seven years, stand alone as the only English team to have won four straight top-flight titles, eclipsing the achievements of the great Liverpool and Manchester United teams of the past.

“It is so hard to put into words what we’ve done today,” Foden told Sky Sports. “No team has ever done it [won four in a row]. We have put ourselves into the history books. You see what it means to the fans and to us players working all year for this moment. A special moment to share it with the fans.”

Elsewhere on the final day of the Premier League season, Luton’s relegation was confirmed with a 4-2 loss at home to Fulham. They will join Burnley and Sheffield United in the Championship next season.

Tottenham beat relegated Sheffield United 3-0 to seal fifth spot and a place in next’s season’s Europa League while Chelsea guaranteed a sixth-place finish with a 2-1 win against Bournemouth.

Newcastle’s 4-2 win at Brentford condemned Manchester United to an eighth-place finish — their lowest since 1990.

Foden magic

Manchester City’s Phil Foden celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, on May 19, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AP

Foden, 23, has enjoyed his most impressive season yet for City, taking his tally to 27 goals in all competitions on Sunday, together with 11 assists.

The England man opened the scoring on Sunday after just 79 seconds with a vicious left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, settling nerves among the home fans. He then passed the ball into the net in the 18th minute after an assist from Jeremy Doku.

City appeared to have one hand on the trophy and news then filtered through that Everton had taken the lead at Arsenal, leaving Mikel Arteta’s men leaving an unlikely sequence of events to come out on top.

But the title race came alive again within the space of a few minutes when Takehiro Tomiyasu side-footed home to level at the Emirates before Kudus pulled one back for West Ham.

The atmosphere became more subdued at the Etihad but the visitors rarely threatened again in David Moyes’s final game in charge and Rodri’s goal in the 59th minute eased the pressure.

Arsenal fell behind to Idrissa Gueye’s 40th-minute goal at home but Tomiyasu levelled just three minutes later and Kai Havertz sealed a 2-1 win in the 89th minute.

Klopp’s emotional send-off

Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, on May 19, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AP

Klopp was given an emotional send-off at Anfield after nine trophy-filled years.

Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in the 34th minute and Jarell Quansah netted six minutes later for the Reds, who ended the season in third place.

Dejan Kulusevski scored twice for Tottenham against Sheffield United while Moises Caicedo scored a spectacular goal from the half-way line to set Chelsea on their way against Bournemouth. The win for Mauricio Pochettino’s men means they seal a European place after a topsy-turvy season.

Erik ten Hag’s United beat Brighton 2-0 in Roberto De Zerbi’s final game in charge of the south coast club but it was too little too late to save a disastrous league season.

Manchester City won an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title on Sunday as Phil Foden’s double inspired a 3-1 victory over West Ham. No side in the history of the English top flight had ever won four successive titles, but City have become accustomed to rewriting the record books under Pep Guardiola. The Catalan coach has masterminded six Premier League wins in the past seven seasons. In four of those years, City have also surpassed 90 points. They were pushed this season to deny Arsenal a first title since 2003/04.

The Gunners celebrated a 0-0 draw at the Etihad last month that kept them one point in front of City with nine games to play.

But the champions were relentless in the run-in, winning  their final nine league games, scoring 33 goals.

Guardiola conceded City had felt the pressure in a nervy 2-0 win at Tottenham in midweek that kept the destiny of the title in their own hands.

In the same scenario two years ago, they needed a remarkable late fightback from 2-0 down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 on the final day.

There was far less drama as West Ham melted under the baking Manchester sun in David Moyes’ final game in charge of the Hammers.

Foden was recently crowned the football writers’ player of the year for his best-ever goalscoring season and ended any suspense after just 79 seconds.

The England international arrowed a blistering drive into the top corner to ensure there was no nervous wait for the title party to get started.

Foden doubled City’s lead inside 20 minutes with another cool left-footed finish from Jeremy Doku’s cross for his 27th goal of the season.

City should have been out of sight before half-time as Alphonse Areola denied Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland failed to turn in from point-blank range.

Out of nowhere, there was a twist in the tale of the first half when, from a West Ham corner, Mohammed Kudus’ outrageous overhead kick flew high past Stefan Ortega.

Haaland claimed his second Golden Boot in as many seasons in the Premier League despite a day to forget in front of goal.

The Norwegian missed a huge chance to restore the home side’s two-goal cushion when he spooned over another inviting Doku cross.

City swiftly restored order at the start of the second period and fittingly it was Rodri, himself a player of the year contender, who delivered the knockout blow to Arsenal’s title hopes.

The Spaniard has not been on the losing side for club or country since March 2023.

City’s only three Premier League defeats came in the three games the 27-year-old was suspended.

This time Areola should have done better as the Frenchman failed to turn Rodri’s tame effort round the post.

City could cruise to the finish line and extend a remarkable 35-game unbeaten streak in all competitions from open play.

The only blip on that run was a penalty shootout defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals that  denied Guardiola’s men the chance of back-to-back trebles.

They can make it double next weekend when Manchester United have the unenviable task of stopping their local rivals in the FA Cup final.

By achieving a degree of league dominance never seen before, City have made their case to be considered the greatest side English football has produced.

There was an anti-climactic end as City players had to tell fans to get off the pitch before the full-time whistle.

Thousands of supporters  poured onto the field at the end despite pleas from the club to stay off the playing surface.

Manchester City will be eyeing their fourth Premier League title on trot© AFP

Pep Guardiola’s side are in pole position for a sixth English crown in seven seasons.© AFP