The Fenix restaurant and bar in Manchester Goods Yard describes itself as a “space to relax and a place to enjoy” and there was no shortage of both as Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland led the revelry at Manchester’s title celebrations City.
City’s relentless march to a record fourth successive Premier League win required laser focus, but on Sunday night Pep Guardiola’s players were told to let their heads down and it was clear they missed the chance to party hard wouldn’t pass up.
It was 5am when Grealish was looking worse for wear as he was helped out of the popular nightclub by some burly minders. He certainly wasn’t the only one who partied into the early hours as City’s stars were joined by their wives, girlfriends and club staff.
Team-mate Kevin De Bruyne was seen slumped in the back of a taxi at the end of the evening and a blue-eyed Rodri, City’s metronome, seemed for once unsteady on his feet by the time he finally called it a day.
While Grealish turned up in a striking £2,000 outfit from Gucci – the fashion label for which he is a brand ambassador – Haaland opted for more subdued attire, with the Norwegian striker dressed in a casual City T-shirt and shorts.
Haaland, who won the Premier League’s golden boot for the second time in a row after following up last season’s tally of 36 goals with 27 this time, was joined at the bash by girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen, who looked smiling at the dance floor.
Guardiola was joined at the festivities by wife Cristina Serra. De Bruyne’s wife Michele Lacroix wowed in a tight black dress, while Phil Foden’s girlfriend Rebecca Cooke, who is expecting their third child together, was also in attendance.
Grealish later shared a video from inside the venue as City players and partygoers sang and danced to the 1989 Human League hit, Don’t you want me?.
City had rented out the modern Greek and Mediterranean restaurant and bar and it was clear it was an evening where no expense was spared.
Ederson, wearing a black T-shirt with his name and images of himself in green, was pictured leaving the party carrying a bottle of Tignanello Antinori red worth £1,280. Midfielder Matheus Nunes left the venue with two golden bottles of Ace of Spades champagne worth £700.
With City’s players not due to report until Wednesday, when attention will turn to the FA Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley and the prospect of a double-double, Guardiola has given his side some time to relax and enjoy after another marathon campaign.
The celebrations started almost as soon as referee John Brooks blew the final whistle after City’s 3-1 win over West Ham.
Guardiola’s players had to leave in a hurry as thousands of City fans stormed the pitch, ignoring the club’s pleas to stay off the grass, but they were soon back in the dressing room where the beer and champagne were broken open.
Kitman Brandon Ashton performed his usual routine of sliding across the locker room floor in his pants as the players danced and sang to the tune of “Campeones, campeones, ole, ole, ole!”.
There were some funny scenes on the pitch where Premier League chairman Alison Brittain was due to present the trophy to City captain Kyle Walker. Phil Foden’s five-year-old son Ronnie wasted no time getting into the festive spirit as he attempted to open a bottle of champagne before ultimately accepting defeat. Although the youngster actually looked less bewildered than Grealish as he tried to figure out how to make a confetti cannon work, it suddenly exploded and temporarily shocked the bewildered England midfielder.
A large part of the team did not leave the stadium until seven o’clock in the evening, because they were celebrating with friends and family. Grealish posted a video of himself singing Natasha Bedingfield’s song Unwritten with friends and also celebrated with his younger sister Hollie.
These were moments that City’s players and staff wanted to savor. Next Wednesday, however, the focus will shift back to football and the hunt for a new trophy.
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