If you don't laugh, you cry, so the old adage goes. And Nigel Clough knows that all too well after Wednesday night.
Clough took his Burton side to the Etihad Stadium for the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Premier League champions – and it turned out to be, in his own words, an annihilation.
Clough's father Brian, the legendary former Derby and Notts Forest manager, was known for his quick wit and bone-dry sense of humour when it came to his dealings with the press.
And Nigel showed shades of his father's charisma when he took the 9-0 drubbing, against a team who currently sit 51 places higher than them in the football league pyramid, with a pinch of salt.
'I don't think we could've done too much more with the quality that is out there,' he said. 'One or two goals we'll pick apart where we could've done better, especially the first one, but the gulf between the two teams is far too much to make up tonight.
'We're talking about United, Arsenal, and Chelsea bridging the gap between themselves and the top three - we're halfway down League One so we've got no chance.
'They're professional, they keep going and don't ever ease off. They don't just beat you, they annihilate you.
'It's not very pleasant when you're on the other end of it, but I've just said to the players, if that front five players are in the final of the Champions League... if they make it... they'll give Real Madrid problems or whoever problems, so they're going to give us problems.'
Following the full-time whistle, City manager Pep Guardiola said he would invite his opposite number for a glass of wine.
'I am off for a glass of wine with Nigel Clough,' Guardiola said. 'I know how important his father was for English football, he was a genius. It will be a pleasure to share some minutes with him.'
Clough responded: 'I hope he's got more than a glass.'
outdoor
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He's a good egg. I've been going to quite a few games at the Pirelli, and earlier this season there were pretty loud rumblings among the fans about wanting him out. Im very glad he started stringing some respectable results together, stabilised the ship, and seems to have the locals back onside.
pololim
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What a great guy, I would be in a much less stable place if that'd happened to me
ballstars
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“We didn’t do too much wrong. Certainly, 2 or 3 of the goals, we could have done a bit better.” I agree with Clough here, the gulf in quality was just too much, but I found this quote pretty funny.
Weilbid
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This is really great. Incredibly classy to not point out that the average player for City makes the equivalent of their entire teams wages, despite that seeming like a pretty clear factor in this result.
Padhraics
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He was a class act on the pitch in his playing days too. Seems a good guy.
freefell
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This man deserves a position at a higher club. He answered with poise and pride. Yeah I'd be worried to after seeing the draw. He knew the deal and he knew it could be messy. Great coaches see positives in wins and losses. Burton is lucky to have a coach like Clough and I'm happy they got as far as they did. Not much you can do when players on the other team cost more than your whole team combined.
genuinen
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I hope Pep bought him a nice bottle of wine lol
Dior226
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Nine games in 29 days is pretty harsh.
lakerhala
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Seems like a nice guy.
twentieth
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Seems like a top bloke, has to be incredibly proud of his team to make it that far
hukcal
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He's not looked back on very fondly by older City fans but I think he handled the situation very admirably yesterday. Also gave a nice interview before the match about how much he thinks his dad would have loved Silva and the way City are playing.
dusky
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That was pretty good. I lost it when he said Can’t Wait for next leg lol.
youerer
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Losing 9-0 in a semi final is still better than not being in a semi final
cape
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It's only half time. When was the last time a team scored 10-0 in the second half? Come on Burton.
Stockholm
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Brilliant responses from Clough Junior. Huge respect for the man, for many reasons.
neurology
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At least Button came to play, that's more than some premiership teams do.
Mutuamente
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Nigel Clough and Burton have performed miracles to get to the semi final! An impossible task for them! They did their very best but you can't compete against such a team when you are half way down league 1! The days of teams coming up thru the leagues are over, money and the premiership have paid to that! But Nigel and the boys have shown us that the spirit of football is still alive! The result is immaterial, the fact they were there is far more relevant!!
lively
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If burton spend 1 billion on a squad maybe they could have competed. It's no shock they got hammered.
Balcombe
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why are the press going crazy about this result? its the most expensive team in the UK verses probably the most inexpensive in the football league. get a grip on reality here
Schwein0731
0
City already put 5+ goals against 6 different teams in PL & CL this season nothing to be ashamed about
MilanMilan
0
as someone stated yesterday the odds on burton to won was the same as city winning 9-0 so lets put the result into perspective....
Andredu
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City showed their class, Putting a strong team out and playing normal. Tough for Burton. They will be better for the experience. Burton are punching above their weight.
literary
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Fair play to burton, got further in the competition than the multi millions of woolwich arsenal, man united, liverpool etc
struggle
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Liverpool are in fear of this great team.
offdream
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Why are people complaining about Man City obsessed or what ? Great match great mutual respect and great effort made from all the players on the pitch
Shrivastava
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Why are people complaining about Man City obsessed or what ? Great match great mutual respect and great effort made from all the players on the pitch
Earnester
0
Liverpool are in fear of this great team.
billiong
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Fair play to burton, got further in the competition than the multi millions of woolwich arsenal, man united, liverpool etc
Keplerer
0
City showed their class, Putting a strong team out and playing normal. Tough for Burton. They will be better for the experience. Burton are punching above their weight.
amicablef
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as someone stated yesterday the odds on burton to won was the same as city winning 9-0 so lets put the result into perspective....
bluesgay
0
City already put 5+ goals against 6 different teams in PL & CL this season nothing to be ashamed about
bearing
0
why are the press going crazy about this result? its the most expensive team in the UK verses probably the most inexpensive in the football league. get a grip on reality here
hunting
0
If burton spend 1 billion on a squad maybe they could have competed. It's no shock they got hammered.
shyman
0
Nigel Clough and Burton have performed miracles to get to the semi final! An impossible task for them! They did their very best but you can't compete against such a team when you are half way down league 1! The days of teams coming up thru the leagues are over, money and the premiership have paid to that! But Nigel and the boys have shown us that the spirit of football is still alive! The result is immaterial, the fact they were there is far more relevant!!
happen
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At least Button came to play, that's more than some premiership teams do.
freedong
0
Brilliant responses from Clough Junior. Huge respect for the man, for many reasons.
Romeojin
0
It's only half time. When was the last time a team scored 10-0 in the second half? Come on Burton.
unhappy
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Losing 9-0 in a semi final is still better than not being in a semi final
Gabrieljackson
2
lol no words