In what is possibly the biggest week of their modern history, Manchester City are already landing blows.
Not in relation to Saturday’s Champions League final against Chelsea in Porto but ahead of a defence of the Premier League title that is being plotted already.
That is how it works at a really big football club. Finish one successful season and immediately find a way to get even better. Strengthen when you are strong.
For years it worked for the big beast in red across the other side of Manchester and now it is being grafted on to the City DNA too.