Above all else – the stunning victories, the incredible football, the goals flying in from everywhere – it was the noise.
The joyous sound of group celebration echoed down the corridor at the Stadio San Paolo following Manchester City’s seismic 4-2 Champions League defeat of Napoli as it had at Stamford Bridge earlier, after a dismantling of Chelsea that had turned a big six Premier League clash into a minnows versus giants cup tie.
City officials have witnessed big moments before. But that noise, bellowing out of the visiting dressing rooms on both occasions, was something new. To them, it highlighted that this is a group of players who are in this together.
Former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola is on the verge of something special at Manchester City
The Spaniard has created a united squad, who enjoy their work and each other’s company
Guardiola, pictured talking to Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, is an excellent motivator
That, as has been the case previously, there are no issues with ego. Put simply, it underlined the incredible unity Pep Guardiola has brought to the club.
A lot has changed since the Catalonian breezed into town in his skinny suit last July, armed with a fat plan to create a new era in east Manchester.
This report will examine the finer points of the behind-the-scenes revolution that followed.
The adjustments have been aplenty – but it is important to note that if you ask members of staff at City what the biggest shift has been in the wake of Guardiola’s arrival, many will point to an encompassing feeling of togetherness among the whole organisation.
It starts at the top. In the precious moments he has while football is not dominating his agenda, the manager has been known to come into the large, open-plan office at the Etihad Stadium where City’s administrators work, sit on the desk of an office worker and happily chew the fat.
That familiarisation is key. When he arrived at the club, armed with the strategy for his latest project, Guardiola ensured he knew every player’s nickname.
Guardiola ensured he knew every player’s nickname when he arrived at Manchester City
Sources say he is now not far away from knowing the first names of every member of staff, from the tea lady to the head of accounts.
There is also a strong commitment to improving team spirit.
Every so often, the manager will arrange a meal out in Manchester for his players. Often, they willingly spend time away from the club together.
Another well-placed source commented: ‘For the first time in a long time, there does not appear to be any dressing room cliques.
‘It’s a younger team than we’ve had for a while and they seem to have bonded really quickly.’
There are said to be no dressing room cliques at City, rather a united group of team-mates
Attendance at the Etihad Campus for breakfast and lunch for the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Co is now compulsory.
While the primary aim here is to ensure the players are getting the right nutrition and refuelling as they should, the side effect of them spending more time together as bread is broken is not simply a happy coincidence.
A multinational team of chefs provide the food, including specialists from Spain, France and England.
Players are encouraged to take doggy bags home with them and most are only too happy to oblige.
A common sight for those working on the security gate is a player driving underneath the barrier following a training session with a cardboard box of food carefully placed on their heated passenger seats.
Guardiola hired nutritionist Silvia Tremoleda to create delicious and healthy meals for players
On matchdays, the fact that most players will be subject to rigorous exercise for 90 minutes means that rules around the choices can be a little more relaxed.
Leroy Sane, for example, is a fan of banana bread on the day of a game. It works both ways.
Guardiola’s men are increasingly earning a reputation as a committed bunch who take their food intake incredibly seriously.
Argentina pair Nicolas Otamendi and Aguero, for example, are among a number of the squad on gluten-free diets.
On most mornings, players will be given an assortment of vitamin and nutritional supplements, tailored to their own pre-measured dietary requirements. This includes a variety of pills and protein shakes.
Regular blood tests are also taken and, as Samir Nasri discovered to his cost, close attention is paid to body fat levels.
The Premier League outfit have a team of 10 key medical personnel along with two doctors
A team of 10 key medical personnel along with two doctors, a tweaked upgrade on the level of staffing present under Guardiola’s predecessor Manuel Pellegrini, is on hand to ensure maximum support is given.
The day after a match, without fail, players are brought in and put into a cryotherapy chamber to aid recovery. In short, absolutely nothing is left to chance. And then there is the football itself.
Often, ahead of training sessions, Guardiola asks his players to gather in a lecture theatre at the £200m Campus.
Once they are sitting comfortably, their manager will run through a list of objectives and tell his men what he wishes to achieve out on the pitch, using the giant video screen to help communicate what he is looking for.
On a number of occasions, young players from the club’s Elite Development Squad are briefed on the weekend’s opposition and then told to go out and replicate their style of play in a practice match against the first team.
Guardiola often instructs City’s youth team to play like upcoming opponents in training games
Training sessions, while intense, are enjoyable. They are also demanding.
Many of the club’s players will remain at the Campus and take a power nap afterwards in some of the hotel rooms available.
As it was in Munich and Barcelona, the manager’s office is a temple of football.
On each wall there is a screen filled with thoughts and aims, all written in his native Catalonian.
For the club captain, the biggest change has been the delivery of the message.
Although Guardiola’s City training sessions are tough for his players, they are also enjoyable
‘I think his (Guardiola’s) strength is that he has been extremely consistent from the first day,’ Vincent Kompany told Sportsmail.
‘I think what’s changed is that the ideas have now come across. He’s the same now as he was on day one.’
The season is young, and those at the club – not least Guardiola – are careful not to get carried away.
Nothing has been won yet and they are very wary of the ghosts of last year coming back to haunt them.
But there is a feeling that they are on the verge of something special at Manchester City. The Guardiola revolution is in full swing.
Fernandinho (right) was pictured joking around with a member of backroom staff on Thursday