Only one regular was missing from the Manchester City squad on Saturday — Kyle Walker, wearing a protective boot in the stands.
Yet here were the walking wounded. Injured Kevin De Bruyne sat on the bench but was never destined to play. Ilkay Gundogan’s knee problem meant his place among the substitutes was ceremonial, too.
When Pep Guardiola said City were in ‘big trouble’ last week, he was not kidding. Riyad Mahrez was his only fit senior attacking player on the bench and was his solitary change at Wembley.