Manchester City are Premier League champions.

We’ve had plenty of time to digest that news as it’s been coming for months, but even so the celebrations were sweet for those of a Blue persuasion – especially coming after two weeks of horror, losing to Liverpool in the Champions League and Manchester United in the league.

It was also something of a let-down to some City fans that their club couldn’t win the title by winning in front of their own fans: rivals United succumbed to defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion, leaving Pep Guardiola’s team too far ahead for anyone to catch.

If it was a disappointment, however, it was only very slight: this title was coming for a while, and the club was able to prepare for it. And so they celebrated in style. Again.

Our Time. Our City. . Premier League Champions 17/18 ???? . #mancity

A post shared by Manchester City (@mancity) on Apr 15, 2018 at 9:51am PDT

When a team wins the title because their rivals slip up in a game they simply must win (or draw) to keep the race going, there’s usually a camera or two strategically placed at a party where some of the members of the squad are present to watch their ultimate victory.

This time, it was just captain Vincent Kompany who City were able to film – as he said later in the evening, most of the squad was scattered around the world, taking their few days off to recuperate with family. They were expecting United to win, and the celebrations to happen in front of their own fans at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, when City face Swansea.

We interrupt your Sunday evening to bring you… https://t.co/41FtlNdYTK

— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 15, 2018

A message from the captain ???????? #mancity pic.twitter.com/a5nRW4NZqy

— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 15, 2018

There are still five games remaining for City, of course. They are now the joint-earliest victors in the history of the league, tied with Manchester United, who also won the league with five games remaining, though they did it one calendar day earlier in 2001 – it was a quirk of the TV schedules that meant United played on Sunday this year. And there’s still quite a bit to play for: City can become the record goalscorers in a Premier League season if they score 11 more, and can become the first team to break the 100-point barrier with four out of five more victories – and a draw. Expect another social media celebration if that happens on the final day of the season.

But City weren’t the only ones celebrating, nor was it just their fans either.

Social media allows everyone to get in on the celebrations, and that meant City’s official partners were able to get in on the fun, too. The club itself compiled them all together in a Twitter moment by way of saying thanks for the support, which was a nice gesture.

For new partners as well as older ones. Some made more of a storm than others, and certainly not all could be considered classic efforts….

Looks like we swiped right on a winner. Congrats to @ManCity on becoming the 2017-18 Premier League champions! pic.twitter.com/SEwMcN4PX2

— Tinder (@Tinder) April 15, 2018

Celebrating victory .. Celebrating together!
Congratulations to @ManCity on winning the English #PremierLeague ????????@Cityarabia #ManCity pic.twitter.com/reikzkBzgz

— Etisalat UAE (@etisalat) April 15, 2018

The most human side of the club, however, is always its players. Players are assets for clubs, but they are also the most relatable part of these massive organisations who are now further removed from their fans as they have ever been. When the opportunity presents itself to put the players front and centre then it should be taken. City did this with a bespoke highlights video for each player, celebrating their contributions as well as giving them a piece of unique content to put out on social media, and then retweeted by the club’s account.

#inSané feeling!!! ???????????? We are @premierleague champions 2017/18! #LS19 @ManCity pic.twitter.com/wIrDuVNPwe

— Leroy Sané (@LeroySane19) April 15, 2018

#ManCity #Champions2018 pic.twitter.com/lZeXqu0GtV

— Vincent Kompany (@VincentKompany) April 15, 2018

Premier League Champions!!!????????
So happy where this incredible journey took us! ???? #blessed #premierleague #champions @ManCity pic.twitter.com/mElj0M5ypK

— Ilkay Gündogan (@IlkayGuendogan) April 15, 2018

Thank you @mancity. Thanks to the fans for their unconditional support. And thanks to the squad and coaching staff, who've made this @premierleague title run a fantastic experience.#mancity #mcfc #wearecity pic.twitter.com/oXRRx6k2Uk

— PepTeam (@PepTeam) April 15, 2018

The most touching part of the whole celebration, however, wasn’t anything that could have been planned for. David Silva, who missed a couple of games this season when his son Mateo was born prematurely in December. Since then, it’s been a difficult time for the Spanish international, but he was able to proclaim his third league title as his most special one yet, thanks in part to the support of the club.

My 3rd league but this one is the most special.Thanks to everyone for supporting me in this tough year!???????????? pic.twitter.com/kKslE189uu

— David Silva (@21LVA) April 15, 2018

Above all else, that puts a title victory into perspective. It might be overstating it a little, but being able to bring fans, players and the club together in celebration, through good times and hard, is a reminder that social media can still be a force for good in the world. But in an off-the-cuff celebration on a day when City surely did not expect to be able to proclaim themselves champions, the Blues were able both entertain and touch their fans on a day of true celebration.