‘We are not going to be sacking the coach next week’ - Webber on City’s grand plan

The club’s sporting director accepts the odds are stacked against them ahead of the bottom club heading to Arsenal on Wednesday, but on his watch they will hold their nerve.

“If the worst was to happen and we got relegated we have lots of good, young players who have played a lot of football either in the Championship or Premier League. We have a plan,” he said. “We are not going to be sacking the coach next week. We know what we need to do. We have learnt so many lessons this season, whatever happens from here, and we know what we need to do to get better.

“A relegation, a promotion, winning the league, that is part of a never-ending journey. Get your head around that and you don’t make crazy decisions because your ego has been battered and bruised. Understand the long game as a club.

“Does it hurt at the moment? It hurts like mad. No one wants to lose football matches. But is it a shock? No, because we expected a tough, long, hard season and we have had some bad luck along the way with injuries. For us to be successful this year we needed everything to work for us.”

Webber, speaking on the latest episode of the Athletic’s Ornstein and Chapman podcast does not fear a mass exodus of the club’s top talent.

“We have some very good players but they have a lot of development to do. What is really important is not thinking if we get relegated I need to move,” he said. “Young players can leave too quickly. If a top club comes in and offers top money and it is right for all parties that is life. The James Maddison deal proved it was the right thing for all parties. Everyone can win.

“Look at the journey of players like (Andy) Robertson or (Virgil) van Dijk.

“Robertson, Dundee United to Hull, playing Championship football, and he moves to Liverpool in his mid-20s. Same with van Dijk. If you are going to move think it is somewhere where I can get into the team. Not be on the phone to us crying in 12 months.”