After so much discussion around his centre-backs, Pep Guardiola wanted to talk about the players next to them.
The selection of Joao Cancelo and Benjamin Mendy should not have seemed so wild, given the club have paid £110m for what they believes are two of the best in the world in their positions.
City, though, starved the home team of possession and on the ball both full-backs impressed; Mendy marauded forward to help Raheem Sterling out and Cancelo linked up well with Kevin De Bruyne and Portugal teammate Bernardo Silva on the right.
If central defence will continue to be a puzzle for Guardiola, the manager can perhaps have less to think about with other positions as he turned a question about Rodri and Fernandinho into an answer about Cancelo and Mendy.
"Joao [Cancelo] had his first game away in the Premier League; it's not the same as the Etihad," Guardiola said. "He was aggressive and has incredible quality with the ball.
"Benjamin [Mendy] as well. He was injured long-term and hopefully he can stay because he has a special quality."