Manchester City are not what they were, but they are still good enough to challenge for the Premier League title this season.
No side have scored more goals in the top flight so far than Pep Guardiola's lot (15), and they sit just three points behind leaders Arsenal.
This is a young and developing side, but City have one of the strongest spines in Europe, with Erling Haaland well beyond scoring goals for fun and Gianluigi Donnarumma bringing a new brand of shot-stopping between the sticks.
Manchester City's Erling Haaland shakes hands with manager Pep Guardiola after being substituted
However, the linchpin in the middle, Rodri, has suffered injury complications this year after missing the bulk of the 2024/25 campaign due to injury
The latest on Rodri's fitness
Rodri is one of the best footballers in the world, and he has been the glue at the heart of Guardiola's genius for so many years.
It was no coincidence that the wheels came off with the Spanish star sidelined last year, and Guardiola grudgingly confirmed he would be unavailable this weekend, City hosting Everton in the Premier League, and perhaps for a while longer.
The 29-year-old confirmed he felt something in his hamstring during the narrow win at Brentford before the international break, lasting only 22 minutes at the Gtech.
With Nico Gonzalez yet to click into gear after joining the Citizens from Porto for £50m in February, Guardiola will need to come up with a solution.
Manchester City's Rodri applauds fans after the match
He will, of course, but this frustrating fitness saga draws us back to a time when the club parted with a young holding midfielder who could have been the perfect understudy.
Pep already sold Man City's Rodri replacement
Manchester City have one of the most efficient and respected youth academies in the world, with so many young prospects spending time cutting their teeth with the Elite Squad.
And among those to have parted with the Mancunians before earning a shot in Guardiola's senior set-up was Douglas Luiz, who joined Aston Villa for £15m in 2019. The Brazil international was a monstrous presence in the Midlands, instrumental in Villa's rise to European competition.
Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz
Now 27, Luiz left the Premier League for Juventus and returned after two years this summer, signing for Nottingham Forest.
Impressive on the ball, combative and a leader of men, the robust midfielder has the complete package, and that's something that has set Rodri apart over the years.
Luiz has struggled for form and indeed minutes at the City Ground this season, but he has proven his ability to stand out in the Premier League before, and was certainly playing at a level suitable for a squad like City.
It's within his ability, with the Brazilian even being described as being "better" than Declan Rice during those final days with Aston Villa by former Liverpool star Jermaine Pennant.
"I would say Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa, I think he can do everything that Rice can do and better. I think he assists more, he chips in with goals more than Rice.
"Creativity wise he's better, flair is better, he can put in a tackle just like Rice, break up play just like Rice. So I think if someone said to me you can have Douglas Luiz for £60m or Declan Rice for £100m, easy every day of the week, Douglas Luiz."
This might seem somewhat ridiculous now, but Luiz really has hit the highest level of performance in the Premier League before, and that's without having been inculcated into Guardiola's tactical sphere.
Declan Rice vs Douglas Luiz: 2023/24 PL season
Stat (per 90)
Goals
Assists
Shots
Pass Success
Key Passes
Progressive Passes
Shot-creating Actions
Tackles Won
Successful take-ons
Progressive Carries
Aerial duel win %
Stats via FBref
Just imagine the partnership that could have been forged.
Of course, Rodri's brilliance has eased any need for an elite number six across most of the Ballon d'Or-winning Spaniard's career in England, but now, with the world-class superstar struggling, a player like Luiz could have been a difference-maker over the past 12 months.