It will be tough to take for Manchester City players when, as is likely, they see Liverpool lift the Premier League title this weekend.
Having won the league for the last four seasons, the City juggernaut finally ran out of steam and they will end the season battling to secure qualification for next season's Champions League.
City can end the season by winning the FA Cup and the Club World Cup but the Premier League and Champions League are always their priority when the season kicks off in August.
This summer is expected to be a summer of transition in the transfer market under new sporting director Hugo Viana and that theory was only heightened by the announcement earlier this month that Kevin De Bruyne will leave the club at the end of the season.
But if City are to compete for the top prizes again next season, where do they need to strengthen? Our writers at the Manchester Evening News have offered their thoughts.
The answer to this question probably changes every week. A new attacking midfielder will be needed when Kevin De Bruyne leaves, but Phil Foden is a natural replacement. This season has exposed the need for a quality back-up to Rodri although City will hope that Nico Gonzalez can be part of that solution.
For the last few seasons, left-back has been a major issue. Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake are good enough there - however now Gvardiol is showing he might be more suited in the middle. Could another year searching for the left-back be on the cards?
All of those positions have solutions already in place - but right-back doesn't. Rico Lewis needs a fully fit and firing team to help him along and Matheus Nunes isn't a full-back. Kyle Walker doesn't want to be at City, so a new right-back should absolutely
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