Nigel Pearson dared to say it after his side were defeated by Huddersfield on the final day of the season - the word "promotion" reverberating around the press room.
It was an ambitious statement by the Bristol City manager, but after watching the opposition run out comfortable 2-0 victors to cement third spot in the Championship, Carlos Corberan's side have set the bar of what can be achieved on a small budget.
The Terriers' total cost of their squad comes to £17.2million, while Luton who take on Huddersfield in the play-offs stands at a measly £3.4m. To put it into comparison, Bristol City's stands at £36.2m, according to data from football finance expert Kieran Maguire.
