Kevin De Bruyne did not play like a man with the recent Champions League disaster still on his mind when Manchester City ran riot against helpless Newcastle at the Etihad.
Much of the pre-match discourse was centred around City's most recent failing in Europe and whether that could potentially derail their league season so late on in the campaign.
Pep Guardiola's side were dumped out of the Champions League on Wednesday night in the most dramatic fashion.
Leading 1-0 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate with nothing more than six minutes of stoppage time left to play, two Real Madrid goals forced the game into extra-time before Karim Benzema's penalty sealed City's fate. Both the players and staff looked shell-shocked by the time the full-time whistle was blown.
Yet four days later, they were professional enough to recognise that there are other honours to play for and with Liverpool dropping points less than 24 hours earlier - a win against Newcastle would hand them a three-point advantage at the top of the table.
City ran riot, putting five past the Magpies and while De Bruyne did not get in on the act himself, he was central to just about everything positive from the hosts perspective. The Belgian registered another assist for City's third, whipping an inviting corner onto the head of Rodri.
In the first half alone, De Bruyne created three chances – the most of any player on the pitch, six crosses and an astonishing twenty passes into the final third. By the end of the game, De Bruyne had managed to make six chances for his teammates.
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In truth, De Bruyne really should have had more than one assist to his name. A phenomenal diagonal ball looped over the head of Jamaal Lascelles and found the boot of Gabriel Jesus, but the Brazilian failed to get a shot away.
There were still some signs of a Champions League hangover from the punditry perspective, with both Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher aiming digs in City's direction before kick-off.
The former Manchester United right-back filmed himself arriving at the Etihad on his Instagram stories while declaring: "I've just entered into the home of zero times Champions League winners." Carragher also wasted no time in sticking the boot in.
The Liverpool legend insisted that the madness in Madrid ensures City can still not be classed as a big club. Pressed on whether he would rather win the league or the Champions League, Carragher said: "The Champions League. I said that a month ago.
"People may see it differently. But for me, the Champions League is the biggest trophy you could win. How many leagues are in Europe? The big five leagues. Five teams every year will win that league.
"There’s only one team can win the Champions League, only one. You’re not seen as a giant club until you’ve won the Champions League. It’s a fact. In terms of City owners and Guardiola, to put them up there as a super club, you’ve got to win a Champions League. You have to."
