JACK GAUGHAN: Man City can start dreaming about the Treble after seeing off Bayern Munich

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief executive Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain were in the Manchester City dressing room afterwards in what should have been a considerably lighter affair than Todd Boehly’s recent trip to Chelsea.

Al Mubarak walked out of the Allianz Arena deep in conversation with Pep Guardiola – whose brother, Pere, was part of City’s executive entourage – and is it now the time they mentioned the T-word?

With places booked in two semi-finals – the FA Cup and the Champions League – while the Premier League is in their own hands, City will certainly never have a more representative chance to make history for themselves than in the coming weeks.

Guardiola’s mantra is to only watch the next game, which is Sheffield United at Wembley on Saturday, but that shouldn’t stop those around the club from dreaming of what they could achieve later on.

Beating Bayern Munich by three goals over two legs, and withstanding very heavy pressure on Wednesday night, is a statement win. It’s hard to imagine the suits in attendance not privately wondering if Manchester United’s 1999 season can be repeated.

The club’s hierarchy must now dream of the team posting a historic Treble

No team has managed to win the Treble since Manchester United achieved this feat in 1999

Spicy night in Munich

There was something that felt striking in the second leg, and that is that City seemed to be enjoying the aggressiveness of the draw. They loved playing the role of villains.

This has happened before, with the goalless draw secured in last year’s quarter-final against Atletico Madrid, but not something necessarily associated with a team playing such glorious football.

When Erling Haaland scored the opener – his 48th of the campaign – the Norwegian cheered the home fans as beer rained down on him from the stands. While that was going on, Kyle Walker got into a heated argument with some of the home fans as he bounced up and down the sidelines.

There were some flashpoints in the game, with Erling Haaland and Leon Goretzka confronting each other on multiple occasions

Pep Guardiola’s side were more than happy to play the villains on a spirited night in Germany

Haaland wasn’t done yet. He also shouted in Leon Goretzka’s face when City won a corner soon after (Goretzka was playing mind games shortly before the missed penalty).

There was that bite but also a greater sense of game management. The substitutes played their part and wasted a few precious seconds as City won a corner, as Phil Foden guided the ball away from Kevin De Bruyne as he trotted over to take the set piece. Kalvin Phillips giggled at his teammate. That was all after Ederson picked up his second booking of the season for wasting time.

An injury blow

Nathan Ake goes for a hamstring ultrasound after stretching in the second half. Ake, who had been chasing Kingsley Coman for much of the night, felt a tightness and was immediately replaced.

Nathan Ake carefully walked away after he was injured in the second half on Wednesday

Ake was seen clamping his hamstring on the bench and is now set for a scan on the matter

“I hope it’s not too bad,” Ake said. “I’ve had it before and it feels a little less to be honest, but you never know with these things.”

An extended absence would be a major blow to City, who have become hugely dependent on Ake’s consistency this season.

It would also give Guardiola a real selection headache. Aymeric Laporte replaced Ake against Bayern for Sergio Gomez but has fallen out of favour, while it is unlikely they would ask Kyle Walker to operate on the wrong side.

Rico Lewis occasionally filled in on the left, but is still young and inexperienced, which can be seen as a risk at such a crucial time.