Europe the true target for City paymasters

The pain Manchester City felt when losing to bitter rivals Manchester United on what was meant to be their title party night may still smart three days later but it will feel like a mere wasp sting compared to what lies ahead if, as predicted, they tumble out of the Champions League against Liverpool tonight.

There’s no doubt that City fans were hurting after United came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at the Etihad on Saturday, cutting short their celebrations and any parochial gloating which went with it; the pictures of supporters in sky blue clinging to each other in sheer horror told the story well.

But for those who run and finance the club, the emotions were almost certainly more transitory. Was it uncomfortable to see that winning goal from Chris Smalling or the lengthy celebrations of Paul Pogba? Almost definitely. Did it lead to a ‘kick the cat’ and ‘cancel the night out’ moment back in their millionaire homesteads in the leafy outskirts of Manchester?