Although United confirmed their 20th title with a 3-0 victory against Aston Villa last night, it does not mean that City have to arrange for DHL to pop round to the Etihad today in order to send a package three miles across town to Old Trafford.
But there is a good reason why they should. The title has gone and the challenge now is to win it back, so clearing an empty space in the City trophy cabinet might just help to focus minds and put the emphasis on next season rather than fading memories of 12 months ago.
This is now a crucial time for City, but there is a danger that weeks will drift by without key issues being addressed.
Sir Alex Ferguson and his players have spoken of how the seeds of United's title triumph were sown in the minutes and hours after the trophy slipped away last season, yet City have now experienced the same anguish and the world is still waiting to discover who their manager will be next season.
There are so many unanswered questions at City - who will be in charge, which of the several players with dwindling contracts will stay or go, who will arrive to bolster the squad?
As things stand, too many individuals at City have doubts over their own position which make it impossible for them to focus on the collective requirement of motivating themselves to regain the title.
Gareth Barry, Joleon Lescott and Carlos Tévez all have one year remaining on their contracts and they go into the summer waiting to discuss whether they will stay or go.
Edin Dzeko is another whose future is in doubt, despite having much longer to run on his contract, while captain Vincent Kompany is the subject of increasing speculation linking him with a move away.
Sergio Agüero could also endure uncertainty this summer, with Real Madrid reportedly identifying the Argentine as their top target.
City will fight tooth and nail to keep Agüero, but the striker's complicated domestic situation following the break-up of his relationship with the mother of his young son is no secret and something Madrid are likely to use to their advantage if they formalise their interest in the player.
The Italian signed a five-year contract in the wake of last season's title success, but he has failed to deliver on his targets of qualification for the Champions League knock-out and retaining the Premier League title.
Winless in the Champions League and currently 16 points adrift of United in the Premier League - Mancini cannot claim to have gone close to meeting either challenge, which is why his future is the subject of conjecture.
But as each day passes without some kind of resolution, another day of preparation and planning for next season is wasted.
United's players and Ferguson are already talking about next season and how they are focusing on retaining the title, but that is because of the stability and certainty of Old Trafford.
Mancini has complained of how City missed an opportunity to move forward last summer and how they did not move quickly enough to tie up his main targets.
But with clarification on his future unlikely to come until the season ends in a months' time, there is a danger of the same thing happening again.
Every day that passes with the Premier League trophy still housed in the City cabinet should act as a reminder of what needs to be done to get it back.
Link: Ona Carbonell: "the general goal is to go for seven medals in the world"
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