"The front three is the future," said Pep Guardiola at Tottenham last week.
Jeremy Doku turned a second full-back inside out in the space of a week, Savinho continued his good form, and Erling Haaland scored again. A few days later, when Jack Grealish returned to the City line-up, he may not have done enough to displace the younger, more dynamic wingers at Nottingham Forest this weekend.
Guardiola named Doku and Savinho as the main factor behind Grealish's bit-part role this season. Soon, he could have another couple of young starlets trying to keep him out of the team.
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City's Champions League exit will hit them in the pocket and also their professional pride. But it has allowed for six weeks in the final stages of the season without a midweek fixture. Guardiola let his players have time off on Sunday and Monday before a rare phenomenon at the training ground on Tuesday.
An (almost)-full squad with four days of training ahead of them for the first time in forever. Nathan Ake's injury is a reminder of the issues this season, so it was a boost to see Oscar Bobb continue his own recovery while Rodri has stepped up his rehabilitation separately.
Bobb was almost set to return in January but suffered a setback and was taken out of training to go back to square one. Now back with the group, it feels like a return is getting closer.
And after a crucial trip to top four rivals Nottingham Forest this weekend, the fixture list theoretically gets easier from then. A home clash with Brighton will be tricky, while a derby away at Manchester United is a complete unknown, but the rest of the 11 games in the Premier League should give Guardiola enough scope to rotate his players and ease back a player like Bobb.
And if he wants, he could ease in a player like Claudio Echeverri - a smiling face in training who will be given the chance to impress this season before a decision is taken on his future.
Guardiola's comments have played down his prospects for an immediate impact, but City's social media trumpeting of the new no.30 is akin to a new major signing. Even if expectations must be managed, fans will be eager to see if he can replicate his River Plate and Argentina form to the Premier League.
City's academy have been trying to develop faster players for the first team over the last two seasons, so Doku and Savinho's 'future' partnership supports that club-wide effort. Bobb is another who fits the fast, skilful profile and so is Echeverri.
It's bad news for someone like Grealish - but City are looking to the future and can unleash two new players to audition to be part of it.
