It was towards the end of April this year when something rather unusual happened to Manchester City.
With City fighting to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League while also desperately fending off a title sabotage attempt from Liverpool, the injuries started to mount and by the time Real Madrid visited the Etihad Stadium at the end of the month, Pep Guardiola's squad was looking worryingly thin.
Because of City's wealth and quality of player, critics scoffed at Guardiola's criticisms of the packed fixture schedule. Despite their claims though City's squad was not - and still isn't - as deep as many of their rivals. At times during the title run-in City had as few as 13 senior players available for selection, the need to play an almost 37-year-old Fernandinho at right-back against Real Madrid evidence of their stretched resources.
But that was an unusual situation for City. During Guardiola's tenure City have rarely faced injury crises, but it's not because they've had unlimited strength in depth. Not enough credit is given to how City look after their players off the pitch, and to the work the players and physio staff do to reduce the risk of injury.
In terms of players looking after themselves outside of training hours, Ruben Dias is the obvious role model. CityTV recently documented his dedicated lifestyle; he's no stranger to extra gym sessions, he's strict with his diet and he is often the first player to arrive for training.
The 25-year-old has had a few injury issues at City, but the fact that he has stared 74 per cent (and featured in 78 per cent) of City's games since he arrived at the club in September 2020 shows the incredible work he and City's staff have done.
In his Friday press conference ahead of the Manchester derby, Guardiola was asked about the reports that City had sent a physio - Mario Pafundi - to Norway to accompany Erling Haaland on international duty. Pep admitted that this was true, but that it is not an unusual occurrence - at least not at City.
"It's not weird, when there are European cups or World Cups many physios go with players," Guardiola said.
"Always I said to the club the most important department is the physios. Erling struggled a lot in Dortmund. Most of the year he was injured, he arrived here with problems after a small surgery in the summer. He worked with Mario [Pafundi] and other guys. Thanks to them and other guys he plays every game, last season that wasn't possible.
"The clubs earn a lot of money when players can play and most of the time it's thanks to the physios. Mario and Erling like each other and he asked him to go to Norway."
It's not just Haaland that City have been smart with. The Blues have shown extreme patience in managing Aymeric Laporte's return from knee surgery, so much so that when Nathan Ake picked up an injury in August, they opted to sign Manuel Akanji late in the summer transfer market rather than rush Laporte back.
Guardiola said that Laporte is back in full training and is feeling good, and could even soon return. But there will be no rush to get him back.
"If we decide to play with Aymeric it's not a problem but there is no urgency to do so, we have Nathan [Ake], Manuel [Akanji] and Ruben [Dias]."
Kalvin Phillips has undergone successful surgery on his shoulder, having suffered a fourth dislocation during training earlier this month. Pep praised the midfielder's decision to under the knife, as otherwise the problem would not have gone away.
Despite what critics say, City's first team squad is smaller than their rivals'. City's advantage is that they are very good at managing injuries and player recovery. Having surgery when advised and sending physios to accompany players are decisions that will have long term benefits.