With his austere exterior, Manuel Pellegrini is a man who rarely betrays a sense of excitement.
Within, camouflaged by his calm expression, there may have lurked a sense of excitement at facing Tottenham Hotspur. His first four meetings with them could scarcely have proceeded any better.
Manchester City were a goal ahead after 14 seconds of the first, in the days when Jesus Navas scored league goals. They won 6-0. They won the first two by an aggregate score of 11-1, prompting Tim Sherwood, then Tottenham's manager, to call City "the best team on the planet".
Two seasons into his reign at the Etihad Stadium, Pellegrini maintained his 100 per cent record against Spurs: played four, won four, scored 16, conceded two. Sergio Aguero, with eight goals, was averaging two per game against supposedly illustrious opponents.
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So when Kevin de Bruyne put City ahead at White Hart Lane in September, it seemed the continuation of a particularly one-sided rivalry. Then something changed, swiftly and emphatically.
De Bruyne’s scuffed clearance led to Eric Dier’s equaliser. Willy Caballero was flapping at crosses, Martin Demichelis ring rusty. City were beaten 4-1.
If it could have been branded a one-off then, now it seems more symbolic. Perhaps it was the moment the balance of power between these clubs shifted back south. They have a recent history as rivals.
They were the ambitious outsiders who broke up “the Big Four”. In 2010, Tottenham won at the Etihad Stadium to clinch a top-four finish.
Twelve months later, there was a role reversal. City’s 1-0 victory ensured they were headed for the Uefa Champions League. Remarkably, the same player, Peter Crouch, scored both goals: the first in the right net, the second in the wrong.
His accidental winner marked the start of a run of eight wins in nine for City against Tottenham. If they approached meetings with the north Londoners with expectation, now they might with trepidation.
That is partly a consequence of a crippling injury list. While the return of Vincent Kompany alleviates some of his problems, Pellegrini is without seven players.
Yet beyond that, there is the feeling that Tottenham are precisely the sort of side who can expose City’s failings.
They are physically fit and fast. They can swarm all over opponents who prefer to take their time over things. They are relentless, whereas Pellegrini’s players tend to perform in fits and spurts.
They bear certain similarities with Leicester City, the one team above them in the standings and the side who won 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium last Saturday.
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There is a clash of styles which can lead to accusations of laziness. As a team, City run the third lowest number of kilometres per league game, Tottenham the second most.
That is reflected in individuals’ conspicuous efforts. After 25 rounds of fixtures, Dele Alli stood second in the standings for most distance covered per game, at 11.86 kilometres.
Christian Eriksen was fourth, Erik Lamela seventh. They are indefatigable flair players.
They reflect the ethos at White Hart Lane. Mauricio Pochettino’s players, compared to “animals” by an admiring Quique Sanchez Flores, the Watford manager, last week, have an evident hunger.
The Argentine has tried to bridge the gap to the best with a work ethic. He is in profit after four transfer windows at White Hart Lane, whereas City spent £158 million (Dh841.7m) last summer.
They often field the youngest team in the division whereas Pellegrini named six outfield starters in their thirties last week.
Tottenham’s ethos is based around energy, not experience. In the manner of many an ambitious upstart, they aim to sweep the old order aside and install the new.
The history of this fixture suggests Tottenham’s September win was the anomaly. Yet the recent past proves, too, that history can change swiftly and dramatically.
Tottenham, chasing a first title since 1961 and Pellegrini a last before he leaves City, can feel opposites in a game where emotions have swung between the extremes.
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