Down the years, they've developed a phrase to cover all eventualities. Whether they're being relegated as champions, losing games after hitting the woodwork five times, or holding the ball by the corner flag to preserve a result that wasn't enough to avoid relegation, the saying "typical City" sums it all up.
It became a defence mechanism to hide the shame; a go-to phrase that supporters wore as a bizarre badge of honour.
All of those events happened, too. In 1938, City were relegated from the top flight despite being champions—a feat that could be matched by Leicester City this season, though Manchester City fans will be hoping they stay up because there’s something perversely satisfying about their club being the only ones to have failed so badly.