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| Kelechi Iheanacho follows up Sergio Aguero's initial saved effort to open the scoring inside five minutes at the Liberty Stadium |
Technically, it isn't over. There is still a permutation that would leave Pep Guardiola locked outside the Champions League and in this of all seasons it is perhaps wise not to rule it out. Manchester United need
to beat Bournemouth by 19 goals in their delayed 38th match of the season. It would be interesting to hear what bookmakers are quoting for that turnaround – just to see if they regard it as likelier than a Leicester City title win.
The handshakes and big grins as Manchester City left the field suggested they are realists, however, and see such a comeback as unlikely. And they are right. City did enough. Just enough. The bare minimum, really. They will qualify ahead of a Manchester United team perceived to be in crisis for much of the season, on goal difference. Well, whoop-de-do.
Condemning United to the Europa League, at best, has some local bragging rights attached of course, but it will hardly have been the prize envisaged when Manchester laid out over £100m on Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling last summer. De Bruyne began in lively fashion on Sunday, but soon faded like his team-mates, and Sterling couldn't even get a game. It wasn't good enough. The whole season wasn't good enough. Not really. Even the Champions League play-off stage will be new territory for Guardiola. He has never had to pre-qualify for the tournament before.
While Swansea players appeal to the linesman for an offside flag, Iheanacho (left) wheels away in celebration after putting City 1-0 up
Andre Ayew (right) levelled things up just seconds before the half-time break, when his free-kick was deflected past goalkeeper Joe HartS
Jefferson Montero (right), who had earlier had a goal disallowed, sprints after Ayew as the Ghanaian forward celebrates his equaliser
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