It wasn't spectacular, but the crowd cheered anyway, the way they always cheer a winger who bothers to track back. Guardiola cared more about that sort of thing than about nutmegs.
Lukas didn't try anything. One touch to kill it, one pass back inside to Rodri.
City started again. Rodri to Khusanov, Khusanov back to Rodri, Rodri across to Gvardiol. Gvardiol carried it forward until the press leaned towards him, then slipped it to O'Reilly, who fed Doku.
Di Lorenzo was on Doku at once, and Politano dropped in to double up. Doku stood on the touchline rolling the ball under his sole, hips swaying, daring one of them to dive in. Neither did. He dragged it once, twice, then cut back inside with the outside of his right boot and found Foden at the edge of the final third.
