This felt like a statement by Manchester City. This felt a watershed — admittedly not difficult with the rain sluicing down — but the real shivers should be felt by the rest of Europe. This was the sort of ruthless and intelligent performance that surely gives City the belief that they can finally become champions of Europe.
“Incredible,” was Uefa’s verdict on City’s calm sweeping aside of Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final here at the Etihad. The Allianz suddenly looks less of an ambush in waiting next week. City are surely too good, and too confident, to let this lead slip.
City are now not simply a team of all the talents but also a team of responsibility-takers, too.