Put simply, Mancity fans have a distrust of UEFA for a variety of understandable reasons. It means the Champions League simply isn’t held in anywhere near the same esteem as the domestic title, the trophy they dreamed of winning for so long.

1. Most prominent on their list of complaints is financial fair play, a set of regulations introduced by UEFA that has been viewed in the stands at the Etihad as designed exclusively to damage their club. It protects the established elite and has penalised City for investment, even though Mansour has taken them out of debt and, as of this season, made them profitable. If FFP was about financial security, City would pass any tests with flying colours. The net-spend limit imposed on the club last summer hurt them. The fine seemed absurd. The fact the regulations have since been watered down is a sign to some Blues supporters they weren’t fair in the first place.

2. What’s more, back in 2011, during a Europa League tie, Porto fans racially abused Mario Balotelli in a game at the Estadio do Dragao. They were found guilty by UEFA and fined 20,000 euros, a pitiful sum that suggested kicking racism out of the game wasn’t exactly a priority.
A few weeks later, in a game against Sporting Clube de Portugal at the Etihad, City came back from the half-time break later than allowed. Their punishment of 30,000 euros exceeded Porto’s and left the City fans scratching their heads. How on earth can such a discrepancy be justified?

3. Then came last season’s farcical events in Moscow. The fans of CSKA, who were drawn in the same group as City for the second consecutive year, were found guilty of racism. They were ordered to play their home fixture with City behind closed doors. Hundreds of City fans had already booked travel and were out of pocket when they were told they would not be allowed in, but further insult was added when around 650 CSKA fans found a way inside the stadium on corporate tickets.

This, for the City fans, was the final straw. They now boo the UEFA anthem before each game in protest at what they see as unfair treatment.



Perhaps today's win and topping the group , which was exhilarating and a long overdue performance in Europe's elite club competition, will ignite some passion in the stands.