At the final whistle, Fernandinho headed to Nicolas Otamendi for the first bear-hug. He embraced the man who had partnered him in the heart of Manchester City’s defence. He clasped hands with Kevin De Bruyne and he had an arm draped around Phil Foden’s shoulder — the oldest and youngest players in Pep Guardiola’s team — as they made their way to the corner of Old Trafford where the victory songs could be heard.



Fernandinho was the last man to leave the pitch and, as the away fans serenaded him again, he turned round one more time and started genuflecting in their direction.



If we were going to be picky, there might have been a flicker of regret as Fernandinho headed back to the dressing room to join the line of blue-shirted players who had walked ahead of him.



A man with his competitive instincts, wearing the captain’s armband, would be entitled, after all, to harbour the strong belief that City ought to have turned their...