Manchester City are Premier League champions.
Pep Guardiola’s side were presented with the trophy on Sunday afternoon following their penultimate home game – a 0-0 draw with Huddersfield Town.
Amongst those to pick up a winners’ medal at The Etihad Stadium was central defender Eliaquim Mangala, despite the fact he’s spent the second half of the season on loan at Everton.
The French international made nine league appearances for City this season, including one in the 2-1 Manchester derby victory over United at Old Trafford in December. However, he was allowed to leave for Goodison Park on the final day of the January transfer window after City completed the club record signing of Aymeric Laporte.
His time at Everton didn’t go to plan. Having made his debut in a 5-1 defeat at Arsenal in early February, he injured his knee a week later in a game against Crystal Palace. It was later announced that the injury would keep him out for the remainder of the season.
Regardless of his contribution to City’s title success, many were still surprised to see Mangala at the title celebrations on Sunday. Some claimed he’d ‘done a John Terry’ – referring to the former Chelsea captain famously wearing full kit as he lifted the Champions League trophy in 2012, despite being suspended for the final against Bayern Munich.
https://twitter.com/gregianjohnson/status/993450092106518529
Kompany with the goddamn WWE title belt over his shoulder, shaking hands with Mangala who’s wearing a full Man City kit even though he’s on loan at Everton.
I swear you will never see anything like this ever again, so watch it. Drink it in. pic.twitter.com/r6KI8g64lt
— M (@emjaybe_) May 6, 2018
Mangala is the new John Terry https://t.co/WJUTE9MiGH
— Phil Bagwell (@SupernovaPhil88) May 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/DancingDarren/status/993480212263460865
https://twitter.com/gazkirkby/status/993470805890740224
https://twitter.com/ForzaSterling/status/993137615393173504
Wait Mangala went back to Man City to collect his PL medal even though he's on loan at Everton?? 😂😂
— A1 (@Audz1st) May 6, 2018
Tweeting after the presentation, Mangala said he was proud to have been part of City’s title success, also adding that he had hoped to have contributed more to Everton.
This season has been special for me ! I'm very proud to have contributed to conquer the title with @ManCity
I would have liked to bring more to @Everton , but unfortunately my injury wouldn't allow me to help the team..Many thanks to all of you for your support 👊🏿 pic.twitter.com/6dvNmLXYGV
— Eliaquim Mangala (@Elia22Mangala) May 6, 2018
Mangala began his career in Belgium with Standard Liege, leaving them for Portuguese side FC Porto in 2011. He signed for City in 2014 but spent Guardiola’s first season in Manchester on loan with La Liga side, Valencia.
City close their season with two final league fixtures: at home to Brighton on Wednesday evening and away at Southampton on the final day.
