The light-hearted fidgeting of Christmas 2018 is over and the serious fretting of the new year can begin in Manchester City households. We can at last raise a tentative glass to the rebirth of the real City. Frail, feeble, and flawed.

SO here we all are this week, at last: a whole continent’s eyes cast towards a venerable Eastern Bloc capital, where a thrilling competition comes to a primetime TV climax — amidst, no doubt, much muttering about skulduggery and bias.