Five days earlier, Manchester City had announced Guardiola would replace Manuel Pellegrini in the summer of 2016. The BBC reported the news with the words:
> “City could yet win four trophies under Pellegrini this season. They are already through to the final of the League Cup and are second in the league behind Leicester City.”
Another article went into depth about whether this meant Manchester City would become the superior club in the city for the foreseeable future. After all, United had won five Premier League titles in the preceding ten years, compared to City’s two.
> “City can eclipse United, should they wish, with their financial firepower and they will use that to cash in on the appointment of one of the game's most celebrated and decorated figures. So are they now bigger? In footballing terms the answer is surely 'yes'.
>
> If Manchester United fans felt they were in danger of being left behind before, those fears will only have increased with Guardiola's appointment at City. There was even a suggestion they held off making any sort of approach for fear of it appearing they had been outflanked and beaten to him by their neighbours.
>
> Surely the odds on Jose Mourinho arriving at Old Trafford shortened once Guardiola was announced as City's next manager?
>
> Once the noisy neighbours, City have proved by luring Guardiola they are currently the major footballing power in Manchester.”
Chelsea had also been interested in Guardiola to replace interim manager Guus Hiddink. Instead, they brought in Antonio Conte. Since then, they’ve been through Maurizio Sarri, Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Frank Lampard, Mauricio Pochettino and now Guardiola’s former deputy and ex-Leicester manager Enzo Maresca. And still Guardiola continues at City, recently signing a new contract extension to take him to 2027 and eleven years in the Etihad dugout.
The day after Manchester City announced Guardiola’s arrival, they won 1-0 at Sunderland with a Sergio Aguero goal early in the first half. Exactly one hour later, 150 miles south of Sunderland, Leicester City were in wonderland. Jamie Vardy had just launched the ball over Simon Mignolet to put Claudio Ranieri’s men into the lead against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. A second Vardy goal ten minutes later ensured Leicester would travel to Manchester four days later as the Premier League leaders.
In an interview on the eve of the game, Marc Albrighton relayed the message from Claudio Ranieri to his players.
> “The manager has told us that we need to enjoy the moment but make sure that we don’t waste what we’re doing because next year will be totally different.
>
> Chelsea, Manchester United, even Liverpool, they’ll be back up to the standards they set previously, so it’s going to be a lot harder, so we might not get this position again. We need to take advantage of it now.”
Those three of the big six were all way off the pace. As for the others, the 2015/16 season is remembered by Tottenham and Arsenal fans as the one that got away.
But Manchester City led the chase with 14 games remaining.