As all of the continent’s biggest clubs gathered in Copenhagen, their executives couldn’t help trying to catch a glimpse of one man. Ferran Soriano , in his usual role representing Manchester City at the European Football Clubs general assembly, was described as looking like “a walking statue”.

Some counterparts even felt that he was repeatedly putting headphones in his ear to appear to be on the phone, so he wouldn’t have to engage in awkward conversation .

Whether true or not, Soriano had arguably said enough . While the rest of the world was by then poring over the Premier League independent commission’s excoriating decision in the City case , the club had issued a video to staff in response. It somehow went even further than the official statement, which had remarkably described the panel’s “opinion” as “unsafe”.

Soriano referred to “a conspiracy theory” while insisting City will “take all necessary action to protect the club and seek compensation from any party that tries to damage it now”.

Many executives noted that the Catalan wasn’t blinking, as they themselves could barely lower their own eyebrows.

Sources also state that, despite this attempt at reassurance, many staff were “perplexed” by the video.

It isn’t hard to see why. The aggression of this response, after the emphatic nature of the Premier League’s decision , seemed too extreme a digression from English sporting culture. This feels too far.

Even on social media, it was evident that many fans were properly angry at the ownership for the first time. It was as if this was tapping into something deeper.