Crisis averted then for Manchester City. Or perhaps that should read crisis postponed? The champions of England escaped the league phase and through a certain prism, there is a case to be made that Pep Guardiola's side are well into the post-nadir period of their season.

Pep Guardiola has said he doesn't think Manchester City can win the Champions League this season after they scraped into the play-off round to book a tie against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.

There is a long history of clubs winning the Champions League when their hopes of landing their domestic title have long fallen by the wayside. In 2005, Rafa Benitez's famous Liverpool team's victory came after they finished fifth in the Premier League.