superb

Logic tells me that Villa will come good, because Unai Emery is a superb organiser of teams and we have already seen long spells of them at their best.

He was superb as the club won the Treble in 2022-23, but improved in almost all facets of the game last season.

De Bruyne’s superb vision and ability to play passes into the right areas remains, but he is one of City’s highest earners and Guardiola needs him on the pitch more often.

It’s a superb illustration of the evolution of a group for which the transition has been far from clear before.

As they goad each other, they act pettily and childishly but is also great fun to watch the superb actors go toe-to-toe.