Back here again. It’d only been 49 hours. Forty-nine hours since Manchester City bounced off this pitch, revelling in the Arsenal acrimony. Too soon to be back, for sure.
But that is where this ridiculous calendar is at. Either City played this tie here and now or moved it down to Vicarage Road. Pep Guardiola didn’t want to give up any competitive advantage – which is his prerogative – so 49 hours after the drain of Arsenal came something else to tackle.
Through, and with a first start of the season for Phil Foden – valuable minutes for John Stones and Jack Grealish too – so not all bad.