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“Forty points, forty points, the target is just 40 points, then we will see.”

Claudio Ranieri repeated his mantra even when his Leicester City side were pushing for top spot in the Premier League two seasons ago - but it remains as true today as it did back then.

Claude Puel’s City reached the magical 40-point milestone, which guarantees Premier League survival, with Saturday’s comfortable 4-1 win at West Brom.

And considering the position City were in when he took over, it is part one of his job done now for the Frenchman.

Having picked up just six points from a very difficult opening eight games, City were in the relegation zone, third from bottom, when City’s owners decided to pull the trigger on Craig Shakespeare.

Over his 22 games in charge since, Puel has an average of 1.5 points per game, from nine wins, seven draws and six defeats.

City’s victory at the Hawthorns boosted their goals-for tally to 45, 35 of which have come under Puel at an average of 1.6 goals per game, with 30 goals conceded, at an average of 1.36 per game.

It has been steady, if not spectacular, progress under Puel and the least the club’s owners expected after his appointment.

In their annual financial report to Companies House, released recently, it was stated the club felt results and their league position recently were satisfactory.

It is a statement that conveys the minimum deemed acceptable by the owners and the ambitions they have at the club.

With the FA Cup quarter-final with Chelsea this weekend, and with seventh place and a possible Europa League spot still up for grabs, City’s season isn’t over yet and Puel can still exceed those expectations.

However, while the owners may see a top half of the table position as merely satisfactory, the reality of the Premier League means that 40 points for survival is still an achievement.

It is what every club outside of the top six aim for at the start of every season because no club can ever rest on its laurels and say ‘we are established in the Premier League!’

City have aspirations to be above that simple survival instinct, but as the plight of West Brom, who have been surviving in the Premier League for seven seasons, Stoke, Southampton, West Ham United and Crystal Palace demonstrate that things can quickly turn sour if a club loses its way.

The consequences of relegation can be devastating and Albion are already preparing for life in the Championship. Palace chairman Steve Parry has also stated Palace are ready should the worst happen.

The desire to avoid a fate similar to Sunderland’s is their overwhelming concern right now.

For City, they have new goals now. With 40 points on board it is time to kick on.

Burnley sit just three points above City in that seventh spot, which could be enough for European qualification, although the Europa League has proven to be a poisoned chalice for some clubs in the past.

However, Puel and City now face their biggest game of the season on Saturday against reigning champions Chelsea with a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup at stake.

City fans need no reminding of the club’s record in the competition; four finals, no wins. City fans have dreamed of seeing a City skipper lift that trophy above their head.

Now, if Puel’s team can achieve that then it would be more than satisfactory for everyone involved in City.