Sterling, sliding across the turf - almost out-of-body - believes he has sent City through in the most extraordinary of scenes while securing his hat-trick deep into injury time.

Guardiola, both arms in the air, jumps up and down on the touchline as the Etihad erupts.

The Spurs players are on their knees, Pochettino looks to the sky.

Eriksen, guilty of losing possession in the build-up, seems to want to disappear.

But Tottenham’s assistant manager Jesus Perez, facing the pitch, notices referee Cuneyt Cakir suggest there may be an offside question to answer.

Pochettino, having freshly chucked his jacket in frustration was walking back towards his No. 2, who tells him to relax because a check is in play.

And then the words ‘VAR goal review’ thundered out of the tannoy.

Disallowed. Aguero offside.

Miguel D'Agostino and the goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez celebrated the decision, but Perez calmed them down. There was still an action or two left in a match that had so much drama, it was not inconceivable to imagine more.

When the whistle sounded, the relief poured out and prompted an explosion of emotion between Pochettino and his tactical team.

Back in the dressing room, where he earlier told his players how close they were, he was now praising their “cajones” for crossing the finishing line.

“Unbelievable,” Pochettino shouted on loop as he continued to embrace his coaches in the dressing room.

In the aftermath, there was no big speech. The manager wanted everyone to absorb the achievement in their own way; words didn’t matter when their faces told such a powerful, euphoric story.

They had done it together. Minds rewinded to the start of the season, when it became apparent that there would be no signings and Tottenham would have to resume their role of clawing for everything and catapulting themselves above reality.

Pochettino pulled everyone in when the summer transfer window closed. ‘This is us,’ he told them. Whatever any individual wanted - himself or otherwise - was now null and void.

They would have to go again, fighting against the tide and thinking about possibilities not problems. It would be difficult, but it would also be worth it if they left it all on the line.

Now, here they were. Champions League semi-finalists.

A phenomenal achievement, but it is perhaps the biggest compliment to Pochettino’s management is that it seems normal - that some expected it and that if they didn’t overcome City, it would have been seen as failure despite the massive gap in resources.

The fairytale - founded on unwavering principles, exceptional coaching and a culture of bouncebackability - continues against Ajax, who have their own happy ending to write.

Whatever happens next, no-one can take away from Tottenham what has come before.

They dare and they do.