Fortune Favours PEP

With ban overturned City can embark on a transfer spree to boost squad, but first he wants to land Champions League trophy

- David McDonnell

Despite their bullish stance throughout their appeal, the sense of relief at Manchester City was palpable.

Within minutes of their two-year Champions League ban being lifted, a selfie of a grinning Pep Guardiola and the City hierarchy appeared on social media.

A beaming Guardiola was flanked by trusted assistant Manuel Estiarte, chief executive Ferran Soriano, sporting director Txiki Begiristain and chief operating officer Omar Berrada.

Behind them (above right) was a TV, broadcasting the news that City’s ban had been quashed, the club having avoided the potential unravelling of their hugely successful £1billion football project.

The emotion of the picture said it all: for all their public confidence in the Court of Arbitration for Sport vindicating them, confirmation was greeted with the unashamed joy and elation of a trophy win.