It did not take long for the jokes to start on social media as Manuel Pellegrini delivered his farewell speech as Manchester City manager to a virtually empty Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

There were the usual gags about there being nothing unusual about the unoccupied blue seats, prompting The Sun to label it the ‘Emptyhad’ on Monday’s back page, but perhaps the most succinct, and appropriate, description of Pellegrini’s post-match ordeal was the tweet which read, simply, ‘Lapathy.’

Pellegrini’s address to the crowd, which preceded one of the most half-hearted ‘laps of appreciation’ you are ever likely to witness, was the definition of apathy.

The City supporters, nine-tenths of whom scarpered as the boos rang out at the final whistle of the 2-2 draw with Arsenal, could not be bothered, the players seemingly could not be bothered and Pellegrini, who had been given the opportunity to forego the chance to say goodbye, appeared to regard the whole episode as akin to thanking his colleagues for a £50 voucher for the garden centre handed over to mark his departure.

For some supporters, the regular sight of just a small handful of players acknowledging the City contingent at the end of away games was reason enough for them to head to the pub rather than applaud those who had repeatedly snubbed them.

It was a joyless quarter of an hour, not helped by the absence of the Capital One Cup on the squad’s end of season lap of honour, but perhaps that was another example of the identity crisis which City are now suffering and which could yet prove an unexpected issue for Pep Guardiola to address when he arrives from Bayern Munich in July.

Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Manchester City: Joe Hart 6 out of 10 Could not do much about either Arsenal goal and did well to put off Theo Walcott midway through the second half. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Bacary Sagna 6 out of 10 Took turns with Jesus Navas to try to cause Arsenal problems down the right, with mixed success. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Nicolas Otamendi 8 out of 10 Produced plenty of good tackles and important interceptions, plus some composed passing. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Eliaquim Mangala 6 out of 10 Looked as if he should have done better when Olivier Giroud, who had been left relatively unmarked, made it 1-1 early on 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Gael Clichy 6 out of 10 Some decent moments, but Giroud's goal ultimately stemmed from his error. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Jesus Navas 6 out of 10 Yet again, was frequently involved in attacks without really producing anything too incisive. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Fernandinho: 7 out of 10 A very decent shift, which included him setting up Sergio Aguero's opener. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Fernando 7 out of 10 Also shone alongside his midfield partner and compatriot. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Kevin De Bruyne 8 out of 10 After a quiet start he was increasingly influential as the game went on, and his goal was a fine solo effort. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Kelechi Iheanacho 6 out of 10 Always looked eager to get on the ball but was unable to make too much of an impact. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Sergio Aguero 8 out of 10 Took his goal well, could have had added to it and worked hard throughout. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Arsenal: Petr Cech 5 out of 10 A shaky performance. Got away with an error of judgement in the first half when he rushed out to meet Aguero and then appeared slow to react to the shot as De Bruyne made it 2-1 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Hector Bellerin 6 out of 10 Did what he could as Arsenal tried to deal with City's frequent attacks. Limited opportunities to get involved going forward. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Gabriel 6 out of 10 Pretty solid on a busy outing. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Laurent Koscielny 7 out of 10 Was most often the man on hand at the back when Arsenal managed to clear the ball away This content is subject to copyright. Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Nacho Monreal 7 out of 10 Like Bellerin, spent most of his time on defensive duties and was diligent enough. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Mohamed Elneny 6 out of 10 Showed typical tenacity in the middle of the park on an afternoon when he often had his hands full. This content is subject to copyright. Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Aaron Ramsey 6 out of 10 Helped out at the back, did not offer too much at the other end. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Alexis Sanchez 7 out of 10 Quiet in general but popped up with an excellent goal to draw things level at 2-2. 2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Alex Iwobi 5 out of 10 A display of a much lower standard than some of those he has delivered of late. Taken off just before the hour mark. 2016 Getty Images Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Danny Welbeck 5 out of 10 Came off midway through the first half clutching his leg - a worrying sight for England boss Roy Hodgson. This content is subject to copyright. Manchester City 2 Arsenal 2 player ratings Olivier Giroud 7 out of 10 Another man fairly anonymous for long spells but still a making key contribution, netting the first equaliser and teeing up the second. This content is subject to copyright.

Having waited 35 years to win a trophy until the drought broke with the 2011 FA Cup, is the Capital One Cup now no longer important enough for City to show off to their supporters?

Whatever the explanation – City fans can view the trophy in the club shop should they wish to do so – it does not reflect well on a club, which even those who work for it now believe has lost its heart and soul.

One long-serving employee remarked, following the Champions League semi-final defeat against Real Madrid, that City has now become a ‘club full of twats’ – a reference to those slick and trendy bright young things who now walk through the reception area of the City Football Academy as though extras on The West Wing, dashing from one meeting to another, regarding the Manchester City brand as nothing more than an impressive addition to their CV.

Guardiola will need to restore City's identity when he replaces Pellegrini (Getty)

Ask them their views on Pablo Zabaleta, and you would hope they would speak glowingly of the Argentine defender’s qualities on and off the pitch, rather than confuse him for a celebrity chef.

Those with City at their core regard many of the new faces as simply passing through.

There is little warmth for chief executive Ferran Soriano, the former Barcelona director, who lacks the personal touch of his predecessor Garry Cook and there is a sense that, from Soriano, through to Pellegrini and a good number of his players, City is just a stopping off point en route to something else.

Several of the star players require regular persuasion to attend off-field events, be they media or community commitments, with the view that too much is asked of the likes of Joe Hart, Kevin De Bruyne and Zabaleta, who will say ‘yes’ when some of their team-mates have remembered a last minute appointment or apparent airport dash to collect a family member.

There is a belief that too much is asked of the likes of Zabaleta, Hart and De Bruyne (Getty) (2016 Getty Images)

They say attitude reflects leadership, so Pellegrini’s approach of doing the bare minimum of what is required contractually appears to have seeped into the dressing-room and, judging by recent performances and results, it has gone beyond merely saying ‘no’ to a request for thirty minutes of the players’ time.

Pellegrini’s prickly demeanour, combined with Soriano’s cold approach, has also done little to generate a sense of the collective at City and, again, Guardiola has a job on his hands to rebuild morale on and off the pitch when he arrives.

Soriano gives th eimpression that City is a stopping off point (Getty) (GETTY IMAGES)

City possess none of the ‘band of brothers’ mentality that has driven Leicester City to the title and it is difficult to envisage the players standing among the club’s supporters at a game, as the likes of Phil Jones, Michael Carrick and Marcos Rojo have done this season across town when not available to play for United.

The fans have noticed, and felt, the disconnect, which explains the mass walk-out at the end of the Arsenal game.

It was a response which lacked any kind of emotion or conviction, just another example of saying or doing the bare minimum. There has been too much of that at City and not enough heart <p> </p>

Ian Cheeseman, BBC Radio Manchester’s long-standing City reporter, asked Pellegrini directly at his pre-match press conference last week whether he and his players actually cared whether the club could finish the job of securing a top four finish and Champions League qualification over the final two games of the season.

Pellegrini’s response was typically diplomatic, while not really answering the question, insisting only that it was ‘very important to finish in the best way.’

It was a response which lacked any kind of emotion or conviction, just another example of saying or doing the bare minimum.

There has been too much of that at City and not enough heart.

Guardiola needs to find a way to make everybody care again at the Etihad if he really is the man to take City the highest level.

Don’t overlook Terry’s achievements on the pitch

John Terry will never win a popularity contest outside of Stamford Bridge and, in many respects, for good reason thanks to the non-footballing issues which have tarnished his reputation.

John Terry will miss the final two games of the season through suspension (Getty)

But if the former England captain is to be judged purely on his achievements as a footballer, the glee which greeted the dismissal at Sunderland last Saturday, which means he will not enjoy a final farewell for Chelsea this weekend, was over the top and lacking an appreciation of his qualities as a defender.

Terry has been the best English defender for the past decade and, love him or loathe him, that should not be overlooked.

Upton uproar over the top

It has been interesting to witness the lengthy build-up to West Ham’s farewell to Upton Park, with the final cup tie, the final ‘game under lights,’ the final Saturday game and, finally, the final game at the stadium all being afforded special status.

West Ham will leave the Boleyn Ground at the end of the season (Getty)

Just imagine the fuss if Liverpool or Manchester United were ever to leave Anfield or Old Trafford for pastures new?