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.'
