It has not been an easy season for Alonso, with Ben Chilwell’s summer arrival adding further competition on the left of defence, yet the Spaniard’s penchant for a special goal is clearly undiminished.

With just seconds left on the clock at the Etihad Stadium and a draw not the worst result for Thomas Tuchel’s men at the home of the champions-in-waiting, Alonso’s intent was clear to see.

He drove forward into the box, anticipating Timo Werner’s advance down the right and eventual delivery into the box. Hudson-Odoi almost got there first but nothing was getting in Alonso’s way.

His contact from eight yards out was scrappy but that proved a blessing as the ball looped over Ederson and into the back of the City net to seal a 2-1 victory for the visitors.

After the game, there was an acknowledgement of the goal as his standout moment of a difficult campaign.

‘I’m very happy, especially because it’s been a tough season,’ he said. ‘I do my best every time I play to put pressure on the manager and try to play more.

‘That’s what I want and I think every time I play I’ve done well so that’s what I need to keep doing. With the goal today, it was very emotional and I’m very happy for that.’

Even television replays could not conclusively clear up the exact combination between Hudson-Odoi and the defender that had resulted in the winning goal, with Alonso himself not much wiser.

‘I think he kicked my foot,’ he claimed of Hudson-Odoi’s involvement. ‘But at the end of the day, it’s the goal that counts whoever scores it and the three points for us are the most important thing.

‘This was a very important three points for us because we are fighting for a top three spot. It was an important win and a big step to secure the top four position.

‘We still have three games to go and we need to keep thinking game by game, trying to work hard to keep getting results.’

Alonso admitted the Blues were ‘a bit lucky’ when Sergio Aguero fluffed the chance to make it 2-0 moments before half-time but he felt we made the most of the opportunity and were much improved in the second half.

‘We had another life and we went out and took it,’ he added. ‘We suffered a little bit more in the first half.

‘We were a bit sloppy in the last five minutes but we came out and played a great second half so I think deserved the three points.

‘In the second half, we were playing great and controlling the game. We had our chances, even a disallowed goal, so of course we believed. The team is doing great and we need to keep working hard because the best is still to come.’