Fulham FC Falls to Manchester City 2-0
With City's Champions League spot secured, attention now turns to the summer transfer window, where both City and Fulham will look to make key signings to strengthen their squads. The future of Jack Grealish at City remains uncertain, while Kevin De Bruyne will depart the club after 10 years of service.
Manchester City secured a spot in the Champions League for next season with a 2-0 win over Fulham FC on the final day of the season, thanks to goals from Ilkay Gündoğan and Erling Haaland. The win marked a disappointing end to the season for Fulham, who finished 12th after a poor run of form in the second half of the season.
The match at Craven Cottage was notable for being the third in Premier League history not to feature an English player in either starting XI, with City's starting lineup consisting of 11 international players. Ilkay Gündoğan scored the opening goal for City in the 21st minute with a stunning bicycle kick, while Erling Haaland added a second goal from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute.
The win was City's 18th consecutive victory over Fulham, and they finished the season with a 10-game unbeaten run. Despite a disappointing season, City will now head to the United States for the expanded Club World Cup, where they will face Wydad AC in their first match. Meanwhile, Fulham will look to strengthen their squad in the summer transfer window and improve their form for next season.
The match also marked the final appearance for Kevin De Bruyne, who has announced that he will leave City this summer. De Bruyne was benched for the match, while Jack Grealish was left out of the squad altogether. Pep Guardiola has confirmed that a decision will be made soon about Grealish's future at the club, with the player linked to several clubs, including Napoli and Bayern Munich.
The result secured City's third-place finish in the Premier League, and they will look to rebuild and improve for next season. Fulham, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back from a disappointing end to the season and make a stronger push for European qualification next year.