Manchester City have been confirmed as 2017/18 Premier League champions.

Needing just 33 games of the season , the Blues have been ahead of the rest from virtually the opening day of the season and have not looked back.

Some opposition managers have proclaimed their excellence the first time they clapped eyes on them, while others have been more circumspect in how they have judged Pep Guardiola's side.

Clubs such as Everton, Stoke and West Brom have also seen different managers pit themselves against City to see if they could unsettled the league leaders.

As the team celebrate their title win , here's a look at how they have been viewed from the opposition dugout in quotes taken from post-match interviews across the course of the season.

AUGUST

City start their season with a clinical 2-0 win over Brighton

"When you're up gainst world-class, Champions League quality you know they can hurt you. What we know is we're not going to be up against that quality week in, week out and we need to take the positives from that."
Chris Hughton

Ten-man City fight back to earn a point against Everton with a late Raheem Sterling goal

"You know even with one less player on the pitch they have that high quality on the ball to make it difficult. We were unlucky with the goal, they didn't create a lot of chances, they dominated but we had some opportunities on the counter-attack. It's a good point."
Ronald Koeman

Eddie Howe after Raheem Sterling nets a 97th minute winner against Bournemouth

"We had chances to win the game but we thought we had hung on for a great point. The referee has added the time on, it's more the decision I'm disappointed with, the foul on Lys Mousset that I didn't think was but these things happen...they've still got the ability to hurt you in the blink of an eye and that's what happened. "
Eddie Howe

SEPTEMBER

City thrash Liverpool 5-0 as Sadio Mane sees red for booting Ederson in the face

"We had all we needed at 11v11. We had chances. The first goal is unnecessary, we were too laid back, not too smart. But the decisive decision in the whole game was the red card. I don't think it was a red card, Sadio didn't see the goalkeeper. It's unlucky, an accident. The keeper comes out. You want to go for the ball. I hope people see it for what it is."
Jurgen Klopp

City demolish Watford 6-0 at Vicarage Road

"The first and third goals are offside, it is not a normal game. We had a clear penalty for Chalobah. Everything is difficult for us this afternoon. City deserved the three points, we learn as a team. We can't make mistakes. But it's really difficult with these decisions."
Marco Silva

City beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, a game Guardiola would later claim as his standout game of the season

"There is a disappointment for the result but when two big teams play these games anything can happen. I must be pleased with the effort and commitment of my players because we gave everything against a really good team with good players. Sometimes it is right to compliment our opponent."
Antonio Conte

De Bruyne celebrates his strike against Chelsea.

OCTOBER

City batter Stoke on a day United draw 0-0 at Anfield

"Clearly I would say that [they look most like champions] after being beaten 7-2, but they do look significantly better than anybody else in the league in terms of our experience. We’ve faced Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United and we’ve acquitted ourselves fine. But today they were just very clinical."
Mark Hughes

City survive a late scare to beat West Brom 3-2 at the Hawthorns

"City outnumber you through the lines. They do it very well in the shapes most teams play against. We tried a swivelling four to try and keep the numbers as equal as we possibly could but even doing that - and at times we did it very well - they are going to get really good opportunities."
Tony Pulis

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Leroy Sane of ManchesterCity in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Stoke City at Etihad Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

NOVEMBER

An efficient City performance earns a 2-0 win at Leicester for a 16th consecutive win

"This team for is the best in Europe. i thought we started very well with good moves and organisation for 30 minutes. Different incidents changes the game, for example our first move deserved a red card [for Vincent Kompany]. It's a pity and it was a shame to concede the first goal just before half-time and the second just after it."
Claude Puel

City come back from behind at half-time to win an away league game for the first time since 1995 thanks to Sterling's late winner

"Everyone knows how strong Man City’s offensive line is and how many opportunities they can usually create. I think they created less today, this is credit to my players, but this quality will always create opportunities. Unfortunately they used two, the second was very unlucky but this is a top-class team."
David Wagner

City keep the winning run going thanks to Sterling's late, late winner

"They have players with quality that can score goals in small space. We have to use this type of competitive game as a reference to grow as a club and as a group of players and a team and I think we can see the future in an optimistic way."
Mauricio Pellegrino

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola celebrates after Manchester City's English midfielder Raheem Sterling scores his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Southampton at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on November 29, 2017. Manchester City won the match 2-1. / AFP PHOTO / Lindsey PARNABY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images)

DECEMBER

David Silva scores in the 83rd minute against West Ham for City's third 2-1 win in a row

"We were always quite good on the counter-attack, we've got a lot of power and pace up front. For long periods it looked as though it might be our day but it wasn't to be. They are a really good group of boys, they are trying to get away from trouble, they are working really hard to do so and they did that today. But when you play the top teams you're going to have to do it for 90 minutes, not 60 or 70."
David Moyes

United's manager is asked if the title race is over after City win 2-1 at Old Trafford in a dominant performance

“Probably, yes. Manchester City are a very good team and they are protected by the luck, and the gods of football are behind them.”
Jose Mourinho

City set a new Premier League record for consecutive wins after dismantling Swansea 4-0

"At times it was horrible to be watching that seeing my team trying but suffering for long periods. Ultimately they're not the games that will decide our season but it was hard ot watch at times because they were so dominant and, for me, one of the best sides I've ever come across."
Paul Clement

City's run of consecutive wins ends at 18 after being held 0-0 at Crystal Palace

"I'm very proud of the team's performance. I know how difficult it is to play a team of Manchester City's quality. Before the game we would have been jumping through hoops at having claimed a point, then you get a penalty late in the game, so there is an element of sadness at a chance missed."
Roy Hodgson

Crystal Palace's Serbian midfielder Luka Milivojevic (R) sees his penalty saved by Manchester City's Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson (L) during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park in south London on December 31, 2017. Manchester City's long winning run of 18 Premier League games finally came to an end on Sunday when Crystal Palace held them to a 0-0 draw. / AFP PHOTO / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

JANUARY

City suffer their first defeat of the season as Liverpool beat them 4-3 at Anfield

"Wow. What a game. Two teams at full throttle. it's possible that this was a historic game and you will talk about in 20 years when you watch back and think about the 17/18 champions Man City losing one game, because it doesn't look like they will lose another one. Big respect for their performance and of course what we did, especially in the second half. We caused them problems like hell and scored fantastic goals."
Jurgen Klopp

City bounce back with a 3-1 win over Newcastle with a Sergio Aguero hat-trick, including a penalty that not every agreed on.

We wanted to stay in the game and we did it. The penalty was a little bit soft and that changed everything. After we scored we had a couple of chances that could have made it very difficult for City but they are a very good team with very good players."
Rafa Benitez

City beat West Brom 3-0 as club record signing Aymeric Laporte earns praise on his debut

"I thought he was terrific. His passing from left to right was a problem for us. I’ve got bad news for other Premier League managers – they've got another asset, not just a defensive one but an offensive one too with his passing. Good luck to everybody else.”
Alan Pardew

FEBRUARY

City record only their third draw of the season but it could have been worse but for a blinder from Ederson

“He is the calmest keeper I have seen. It is like having Ronald Koeman in goal. He defuses the game. He made two good saves – it was a fantastic save from Aaron Lennon because he hit it so clean.”
Sean Dyche

After some much-needed rest, City put five past Leicester as Sergio Aguero scores four

"To concede five goals is harsh for us but we played a great team and when they play like this with confidence after the second and third goals, it was tough for us."
Claude Puel

MARCH

Having beaten Arsenal 3-0 in the league cup final, City travel to the Emirates five days later...and beat Arsenal 3-0

"We played with low confidence, you could see that at the start of the game and we paid for it. We lost to a team that is the best in the country at the moment."
Arsene Wenger

City fans sing about winning the league after a David Silva brace at Stoke

"They are as good a team as I have seen in a long time. I think with their movement, trying to keep them at bay [was hard]...I think the way they play the game is terrific, the passing, the movement, you don't really see it until you get close to it, it's a very difficult game to stop. This is a really really top side we have come up against."
Paul Lambert

Another masterclass - this time at Goodison - leaves another beleaguered manager asked if he has ever seen a better team

“Man Utd I think when I was at Bolton, and probably Arsenal. After that, no. You try to do something to stop them and they can play around anything. Try to stop them any way and you can’t. Try to press them from the front, they play around you.”
Sam Allardyce

APRIL

City blow a two-goal lead - and a chance to win the title - in the Manchester derby to suffer their second defeat of the season

"Of course they are frustrated because they wanted to do it today, but I congratulate them for the title because they are going to win and deservedly."
Jose Mourinho

A 3-1 win at Wembley sees City bounce back from a disappointing ten days in some style and put them back on the brink of the title

"I think you know, the people know, we know, that of course we are working in a different way to them. We cannot compare to them. Of course we need to work hard to try to achieve or reach the level of Manchester City. I think we still need to work a lot and of course, in the way that we try maybe one day we can reach.
Mauricio Pochettino

United's defeat to West Brom confirms City as champions

"Manchester City is one club that can continue to dominate, to win. Not only in England but also to fight for the Champions League. They have the possibility to do this; it is a very strong club, they have an important squad with great players, and are a club that want to invest and improve. There are a lot of things that are right."
2016/17 title-winning Chelsea manager Conte