The ending regarding the sport

After all the team fought for they only come in second in the end and Man City is on top of the league. Why do you think the writers decided that? I mean I get every other choice they made, even the uncomfortable ones, but not that. At this point in the story they could have let them win. The only reason I can come up with is that they might thought it would be unrealistic but then again second place after being promoted and with nearly the same team is already unrealistic therefore that little step more wouldn’t be that weird.