Bossing possession doesn't automatically mean you win matches, as Manchester United are discovering.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have controlled possession in 10 Premier League games this season and won only once - against struggling Norwich City. Yet in the five games where they did not have the ball, they are unbeaten - and they were against some very good teams.
They managed 46.25 per cent against Chelsea and won 4-0. They beat Leicester 1-0 with 41.74 per cent, and Brighton 3-1 with 42.66 per cent. In October they made a fabulous Liverpool side look decidedly ordinary after having only 32 per cent.
On Wednesday, Tottenham went to Old Trafford, had the majority of the ball, and lost. So possession isn't everything, and this is not exclusive to United.
Look at the midweek fixtures. Newcastle had 26.6 per cent at Sheffield United and won 2-0. Southampton had 40.1 per cent against Norwich and won 2-1. Ten-man Crystal Palace had 30.8 per cent against Bournemouth and won 1-0.
Leicester won the Premier League in 2016 without the ball, averaging only 42.4 per cent. Chelsea managed 28 per cent against Barcelona when they reached the Champions League final in 2012. It is more about winning your battles, being effective, getting your positioning right.
Some teams are better without the ball, when they can pinch it off the opponent high up the pitch - Southampton do that well. I'm sure Solskjaer would love his players to boss the ball like Pep Guardiola's do but the reality is they aren't at that level right now.
We recently saw Guardiola record his lowest-ever possession in any of his 381 matches as a manager - when his City side had 46.7 per cent against Chelsea. That is how rare it is for them to go without the ball.
So United head to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday knowing they will not boss possession but judging by their previous results, all is not lost.
When United drew 1-1 with Liverpool, Solskjaer sprung a surprise. He played three at the back and his full-backs pushed up high, which upset Klopp and the league leaders. I doubt Guardiola will adjust his 4-3-3 system to counteract that. He will stick to his guns and believe in the way his team play.
United's players had plenty of fire in their bellies for the return of Jose Mourinho on Wednesday. You're always fired up when facing a former boss. I had that against George Graham - we respected him, but we wanted to beat him!
United need to conjure a similar anger if they are to frustrate City today, too.