Manuel Akanji's bag of post-match food bulged greater than the rest of his Manchester City teammates as he walked out of the stadium on Sunday.
It wasn't that he eats the most in the squad but that he was taking some home to his family, with his wife and two children - the second only arriving in the world about a month ago - in a new home and keen for any help they can get. It seems a necessary reminder that some part of Akanji's world is still being pieced together following his whirlwind move from Dortmund on deadline day because he has looked like he has played under Pep Guardiola for years.
Preferred to Ruben Dias for the derby and partnering Nathan Ake, City's latest recruit shone at the back and made a crucial contribution to the first goal as he effortlessly controlled a hospital pass before bringing the ball up the pitch to shuttle it towards Phil Foden. City weren't planning to sign Akanji this summer but are more grateful every day that they did.
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Injuries to Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nathan Ake all forced City's hand but Akanji has taken everyone by surprise with the start he has made, named in the XI for every game he has been available for and looking like an ideal Guardiola defender. Speaking about his disappointment following the 6-3 win over United, he also sounded like a Guardiola player with the sort of mentality that the manager will adore.
"We started really well and were 4-0 at half-time. in the second half we could have done better," he said. "We weren't at 100 per cent any more. Obviously we were up 4-0 and then 6-1.
"The three goals we conceded were too much, we should have done better but in the end we're happy with the win.
"It's not that easy sometimes but we can't concede three goals in games like this where we controlled basically the game over 90 minutes. We have to do better. In the end the three points are what matters but hopefully in the next game we can keep the clean sheet."
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