Given the acceleration of Manchester City’s growth, and the huge infrastructure improvements since Sheik Mansour’s takeover in 2008, any ire was unlikely to be directed at the owner.
There were, however, rumblings from staff about chief executive Ferran Soriano’s lack of communication surrounding City’s involvement in the European Super League, coming only a year after huge uncertainty amid the UEFA ban and subsequent appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Soriano insisted then that City would be victorious on appeal and he was proven correct.
Manchester City's chief executive Ferran Soriano (left) is seen attending a match with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak
This time there came displeasure from supporters and staff at how the Super League episode had played out.