At full-time Pep Guardiola strode purposefully on to the field at Old Trafford. In his keenness to embrace his players and lead them to thank the Manchester City supporters, Guardiola could not have looked more defiant had he tried.
Afterwards, however, it emerged that the City manager could not yet rely on the same kind of spirit from his ailing captain, Vincent Kompany.
The Belgian defender failed to emerge for the second half on Wednesday, triggering fears that he had suffered yet another injury.
But Guardiola subsequently revealed Kompany had asked to come off after feeling 'tired' and unable to continue.