It was the moment that Pep Guardiola knew it was mission (almost) accomplished. As Riyad Mahrez celebrated his and Manchester City's second goal of their Champions League semifinal second-leg victory against Paris Saint-Germain, Guardiola turned away from the pitch, sought out Ferran Soriano in the directors' box and, with his fist clenched, nodded at the club's chief executive.
The two men, who twice enjoyed Champions League glory with Barcelona, were both hired by City's Abu Dhabi owners to replicate their success at Camp Nou in the blue half of Manchester.