Pep Guardiola very much views Manchester City as his own fiefdom. He has been allowed to shape and mould the club in his own image.
What he must realise now is that beyond that small part of east Manchester, different rules apply.
Wednesday night was a thrilling one at the Etihad Stadium. It may only have been a regular Premier League game against Southampton in November but Raheem Sterling’s winner at the death was so exciting to witness, it felt a little like an ‘I was there’ moment.
By the time the lights had dimmed, however, the result was no longer the main talking point.