Manchester City’s 59th game of a marathon campaign ended in rare defeat. But, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know it’s the 60th and 61st that will truly define their season.
Pep Guardiola knows what lies ahead: history – or at least a crack at it.
Here on the final day of the Premier League season Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock drilled home a late winner to inflict on City only their seventh loss in all competitions this season – and their first in 26 matches.
Of course, the loss has very little consequence – City’s fourth title in five seasons wrapped last weekend.
You could tell, too. The less said about City’s intensity here at the Gtech Community Stadium the better.
Ethan Pinnock scored a late winner for Bentford as they completed the double over Premier League champions Man City
The 85th minute strike handed Man City their seventh loss of the season, and their first in 26 games
That said, they’ll be happy with a 90 minutes that passed largely without incident and – more pertinently – with a clean bill of health.
The next 180 minutes won’t be so relaxed. The nerves will jangle. The juices will flow.
Immortality beckons – starting with an FA Cup Final against Manchester United on Saturday.
If they can triumph under Wembley’s arch then the temperature cranks up almost unbearably.
Just ask United’s 1998/99 side. The treble. Can they? We’re about to find out.
After this defeat, Guardiola disclosed a number of his players – including Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Ruben Diaz – are suffering with niggles ahead of their next training session on Wednesday.
You’d imagine all three will be fine, at least physically, to play in City’s two dates with destiny.
Yet, you wonder how heavily the mental exertions of an emotional season will weigh over the next two weeks.
‘We would have acted a little bit different if we needed the points to win the title today – we needed to recharge batteries for the two finals,’ said Guardiola.
With regards to Brentford, we learned very little. They are a brilliant football team – a shining example of how to wring out every droplet of potential.
This victory simply underlined their excellence. They finished the season like they’ve performed for most of it, playing front foot, breathless football.
What a team Thomas Frank has assembled – this victory completing an unlikely double over City this season.
‘Of course it (the double over City) means something, the fans like the narrative. It’s special,’ said Frank.
‘To finish 9th on 59 points…an unbelievable culture we have to protect.
‘We are a selling club – but it will need to be crazy high (offers). And I’m sure everyone – including me – is happy.’
That maybe so, but keeping this team team together may prove easier said than done.
Uncertainty surrounds a host of figures – none more so than their effervescent head coach.
With a number of Premier League jobs set to be available ahead of next season, Frank will be of interest.
Of the clubs to have admired the Dane from a distance is managerless Tottenham. They certainly aren’t the only ones.
So far, Daniel Levy has focused attentions elsewhere – but the Spurs chairman could do worse than trying to ascertain whether appointing Frank is at all possible.
He isn’t the only one attracting admiring glances. Their technical director Lee Dykes’ future is unclear, as is goalkeeper David Raya’s.
All this before we mention the fact Brentford will be without Ivan Toney until January due to his suspension for betting rule breaches.
That’s the price of success for the clubs the size of Brentford.
There’ll be no such concerns for City heading into next season, of course. They’ll dominate regardless of how the next fortnight pans out.
Brentford missed out on European football despite the win after Aston Villa and Tottenham both won
Ben Mee could have put the hosts ahead before the break but missed two good chances
Understandably, Guardiola rested his crown jewels – including newly crowned footballer of the year Erling Haaland – against Brentford given what’s on the horizon.
Yet, they started brightly; Cole Palmer forced Raya into the first save of the afternoon in the fourth minute.
But with the chance of qualifying for Europe still mathematically possible ahead of this game, it wasn’t long before Brentford raised their game.
Yoane Wissa hit a post, though the effort would have been ruled out for offside, before Ben Mee squandered two chances in quick succession just before half time.
Out of kilter with a pedestrian opening 45 minutes, the second half got off to a chaotic start.
Brentford were fuming they weren’t awarded a penally in the 54th minute after the ball appeared to strike Sergio Gomez on the hand.
Referee John Brooks didn’t budge. Frank, in contrast, wasn’t as placid, the Brentford boss eventually booked for his furious protestations.
City rookie Shea Charles, 19, was introduced on in the 63rd minute for his senior debut as Guardiola, if he wasn’t already, switched his focus to the future.
City youngster Cole Palmer missed three chances to level the game for the visitors in injury time
Erling Haaland and John Stones were both rested for the game with on eye on City’s two remaining fixtures: The FA Cup and Champions League finals
For most of the second period Brentford were in the ascendancy – but without Toney they lacked a potent goal threat.
That was until the 85th minute when Brentford struck the winner after substitute Kevin Schade and Bryan Mbuemo combined to set-up Pinnock who duly converted.
Palmer missed three golden opportunities to equalise for City in injury time. But, in truth, no-one was really that fussed.
They will care next Saturday, though. And the Saturday after that.
