It's not just Dortmund. In case anyone hadn't noticed, we've got the little matter of an F.A. Cup semi-final to negotiate three days later. Oh and then the little mater of the final of another cup just over a week after that.
Does anyone seriously imagine that Kevin de Bruyne, Rúben Dias and almost certainly Phil Foden won't be involved in every single minute of all that?
No. Pep more or less had to pick the team he picked today, and they should have had enough — more than enough — to beat a mid-table side that is useful on its day, but is mid-table because it has lost fourteen matches. That's fourteen. The table does not lie. And was down to ten men for half the match.
That is not on Pep. Some naive defending, and abysmal shooting up front. Yes, he could have subbed on Mahrez. Pretty sure that Mahrez is going to be heavily involved in the three matches I've just mentioned.
That is a lousy result, and there's no dressing it up. Because of the magnificent work of the past three months, we've put ourselves in a position where we can lose a match, and almost certainly be league champions. I shall only start to doubt that when we lose another, and the rags win everything. Could happen, but I don't believe it will. Comparisons with 2012 ignore the huge difference between that United team, which Ferguson had playing way above its natural level for that whole season, and this City one, which is still young enough in most departments to leave you feeling that they still haven't reached their peak, despite the extraordinary position that they find themselves in.
But that is an awful way to go into Wednesday's match. No two ways about it. Winning breeds the habit of winning. Confidence has a spillover effect over competitions. I don't think the lads' confidence will have been seriously dented by today. I should hope not, anyway. They're not snowflakes.
But that result today should feel like a burn, and I hope it does. For the players, the manager. And us.
