After the first matchday of the Champions League group stage, life at Manchester City returned to its usual rhythm.
For Manchester City, only O'Neill could roam the touchline, as everyone else, including Mourinho, was banned from domestic games after the trouble in the previous match with referee Uriah. But don't worry—the authority may have ruled on paper, but tactical decisions still lived in O'Neill's head.
As for the players, Gattuso was suspended. This little "card magnet" had already collected enough bookings to fill a sticker album—and he hadn't even completed his first season at City yet. Thankfully, Makélélé was ready, stepping in seamlessly.
With Mourinho absent, whether he liked it or not, goalkeeping coach Terry Gennoe took charge as assistant. The team members were quite familiar with him, so they listened with attentive ears.
