The greatest fear for Manchester City’s rivals this season is not the players who started this victory, but those who did not.
In a season where the complications of Covid-19 and player fatigue will stretch clubs to the limit, those with the deepest, most talented squads are best placed to travel the furthest in the toughest competitions.
On Wednesday, Pep Guardiola begins his latest quest to deliver a first Champions League title for City when they face RB Leipzig. Across Europe, those who hope to deny them will have looked at their bench at the King Power Stadium and shuddered.