None of his squad are likely to admit it, but Pep Guardiola's side put one foot in the Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night.
By the time Erling Haaland slid in to bag his 45th goal of the season in City's quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night the message had been sent. City are going all-out to lift the Champions League this season, the one trophy that has so far eluded them.
That may well have been particularly welcomed by Bernardo Silva, who put in a brilliant display under the lights at the Etihad. Bernardo left City fans on the edge of their seats as he managed three quick-fire nutmegs down the right wing midway through the second half and he even managed to get himself on the scoresheet.