Win and there is immense vindication to go with the freedom to continue running the club how they like and challenge for the biggest prizes in the game. Lose and there would be catastrophic consequences that would require drastic change.
In the meantime, business goes on as usual and the most pressing call is whether or not Pep Guardiola will stay on as manager. The Catalan is expected to leave when his contract expires at the end of next season, yet he has been persuaded to stay before and hope has not been lost that he could still turn a nine-year journey in Manchester into double figures.
Behind that, City really do need to make inroads with Erling Haaland this season.
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