Manchester City always knew there would be a day of reckoning with the Premier League over their finances - and are already primed for a battle they believe will finally clear them from allegations of cheating.
The Etihad hierarchy were stunned to be told that they must face an independent commission to defend themselves against more than 100 charges of financial misconduct over a nine-year period.
But it was the timing of the Premier League’s announcement rather than the confirmation of the allegations that took City by surprise.
