Buying the title.
Ruining the league.
Everything that's wrong with football.
And so the chickens finally came home to roost.
On Valentine's Day, UEFA showed Manchester City anything but love when they banned them from Champions League football for the next two years. With that one mighty blow - coupled with a €30m fine - City's plans for European domination went up in smoke.
All of the excessive spending has finally caught up with the Manchester club, and if they had the reputation of spending more than they should to suit their extravagant lifestyle before, then it's certainly been ratified now.
Not so long ago, the unfashionable side in Manchester became the noisy neighbours, but somewhere along the line they have morphed into the greedy three-eyed monster that is commercial football at the very worst.
And no amount of Pep Guardiola football can rectify that.
Speaking of Pep, will he be willing to remain at a club that has cost him the opportunity of lifting the prestigious Champions League trophy for the foreseeable future?
In the normal world, two years is but a few grains passing through a sandglass, but on planet football, it can set in motion an eternity of hurt and suffering.
Guardiola has appeared visibly disheartened by Liverpool's sheer dominance this season, and despite the hundreds of millions spent on his own squad, City have been well off their own pace, let alone that of the champions-elect.
The Catalan boss may not even want to associate himself further with the Citizens after this season, given his already damaged image as a coach who is unable to win without spending extortionate amounts of cash.
Reputations taking a hit everywhere, then. But in City's case, their image won't be temporarily damaged. It's tarnished forever.
In recent years, the Premier League has presented us with various examples of top teams being forced to exit their comfort zone and break new ground - some more successfully than others.
Arsenal have failed to address any of the issues that crippled the club during and subsequently following the Arsene Wenger era, and their once clear identity has now been muddied to the extent that it's now unrecognisable.
Manchester United attempted to spend their way out of mediocrity following Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, and an obvious lack of a plan or a finish line means that we are still witnessing one of football's biggest sides tread water in a seemingly endless ocean of self-inflicted humiliation.
And then we have Chelsea. A team who burst onto the scene through huge financial investment, sold their soul, and then ultimately broke the rules and were forced to entirely change strategy over the course of a summer. Sound familiar?
The Blues had their transfer ban shortened, but decided against needless spending in the winter window, instead opting to keep the faith in their exciting crop of young academy products.
One of the real positives of the Roman Abramovich era is the club's investment in their academy, whilst also splashing eye-watering figures on some of Europe's biggest stars. Many believed that Chelsea were playing the game of short-termism; winning trophies without an eye on the future. But behind the scenes, the hard-work was really reaping the rewards.
The Blues have a starting eleven filled with young British stars, grown in their own back garden. And the supporters now feel a connection to their club that they haven't experienced in years. A pride stronger than the need for success.
And so City find themselves at a crossroads. There will always be money to spend; their financial firepower will still attract great players - with or without the Champions League - but an emptiness will linger.
They could even win trophies - but they won't be loved.
Like Chelsea, City have been building for the future beneath the surface of the first-team, and a crop of talented starlets are patiently waiting for their chance to make a name for themselves on the big stage.
For some, the wait has proved too long. Jadon Sancho's departure will still hurt those at the club, especially as they watch the youngster go from strength-to-strength at Borussia Dortmund.
Sancho's exit should have been a wake-up call for those bedding the youth products into the senior squad, but openings have remained limited for the young hopefuls. Wonderkid Jayden Braaf has lit up social media in recent weeks with his incredible performances at youth level, but he too is considering leaving the Etihad Stadium in search of first-team football.
And despite their lack of any fit or firing centre-backs, spaniard Eric Garcia still struggles to get minutes for Guardiola's side, while the coach insists on putting square senior pegs in round holes.
And then, there is the undoubted jewel in the City crown. Phil Foden. A boy so skilled, that Guardiola once described him as the most talented young player he has ever seen in his life. And he has coached Lionel Messi.
But yet, amid all the hype and promise, the youngster doesn't get a look-in, while lesser talented stars such are making strides in the England senior side.
So, what is the lesson to learn from all this?
Well, given the amount of investment that has gone into the academy during the Sheikh Mansour era, and the groundwork laid by the great Guardiola - who has embedded his style at every level of the City tree - they don't need to start from scratch just yet.
This current ownership has been in charge for just over a decade, and the fruits of their hard work at youth level should be ready to flower, but trust has to be placed in the next step of their evolving plan.
And considering the advancing years of the spine of their team, the likes of Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Fernandinho must be replaced in the next couple of years. There's a big decision to be made at board level: buy, or nurture?
Luckily, the all-consuming desire to lift the Champions League has been temporarily snatched from them, and it may give the club a chance to step back and look at the bigger picture for a second.
Guardiola may depart, but he's left behind the tools to grow the club into an exciting, dynamic, young squad; filled with homegrown academy products. The infrastructure is there to continue down the same path of success, whilst also merging their scintillating style with the exciting prospects that are desperate to make that step up.
Those involved in the decision-making must accept that patience is needed when bringing through their promising youth academy products, and dreams of domination will have to be shelved for a couple of years.
It's a plan that could provide the supporters with a team to be proud of - b
Source : 90min