Nathan Ake has revealed what Pep Guardiola said to his Manchester City players after they lifted the Premier League trophy.
City were crowned Premier League champions on Saturday evening when Arsenal lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest.
That ensured a party atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, where City were presented with the trophy after beating Chelsea 1-0.
After winning the title for a third season in a row, City’s players and staff were understandably jubilant.
However, unlike last season, City’s stars could not completely let their hair down after securing the title.
City have two dead-rubber league fixtures against Brighton and Brentford to prepare for, but attention will have already turned to the FA Cup and Champions League finals next month.
Guardiola’s side are looking to become only the second English side to win the treble, with Manchester United and Inter standing in their way.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, City defender Nathan Ake admitted those two huge games have put the brakes on title celebrations.
“[We] had a very good time. First at the club, being with the families, taking pictures with the trophy and stuff,” Ake said when asked how City’s player celebrated on Sunday.
“Then we went to another place in town where the families could come, all people from the building. I think it was just a good moment, everyone together.
“The manager said beforehand that ‘I would like to give you three days off to enjoy and party because you deserve it’, but on the other hand we know we have two more big prizes to go for. So I think everyone has got that in the back of their head.
“The manager said at this stage we have to celebrate, to enjoy [ourselves] because we worked 11 months towards this moment.
“To be able to do it in the Premier League, one of the toughest leagues in the world, to be able to do it three times in a row is an incredible feeling.
“You have to celebrate, you have to enjoy that, but also in the back of your mind is that we still have to focus, we can’t drop it now and play the last two [league] games like it’s nothing because we have to make sure we keep that level going into the last two.”
City will face Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley on June 3, before travelling to Istanbul to take on Inter in the Champions League final on June 10.
