Jose Mourinho is the only man capable of stopping Manchester City leaving an indelible mark on English football this season.
Big statement ahead of next weekend’s derby but there you have it.
If Pep Guardiola enjoys his day out at Old Trafford and follows it up with a successful month, the campaign will open up like a flower sensing a spring warmth in the air.
And it will then be entirely within Manchester City’s capabilities to make history. It’s not overstating the case – before anyone starts accusing moi of being over-dramatic.
Assuming that West Ham are swatted aside by Kevin De Bruyne and Co this afternoon – the hosts are 8-1 on at the bookies – then the gap could well be into double figures if they follow it up with victory on their rivals’ turf.
And if Lady Luck can smile down with respect to injuries, there is no limit to what the light blues might achieve.
Guardiola’s test this month will be to chop and change while still keeping the bandwagon rolling along.
Starting today, he has to plan for 10 matches before January 3.
But, apart from one trip to Leicester in the Carabao Cup, that’s not really more or less than anyone else.
This week’s journey to the Ukraine will see him field a reserve team in a dead Champions League rubber against Shakhtar Donetsk.
So there is no real reason why Guardiola cannot keep battling on all four fronts and, Mourinho apart, what is there to be scared of?
Even looking at the pan-European picture for a moment, the Champions League is anybody’s.
Big changes are being forecast at Real Madrid. That usually means Los Blancos are on a downward trajectory.
Atletico Madrid look certain to be dumped out at the group stages, Juventus are struggling to make good the gap left by Leonardo Bonucci’s defection to AC Milan, while Bayern Munich’s trusted match-winners Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben need replacing.
PSG’s front three of Edinson Cavani, Neymar and Angel Di Maria will cause any team on the planet problems but there are questions about the strength of the Parisians’ midfield. Barcelona represent a very obvious threat.
However, with a fair wind, City may not be worrying about them until the later stages. Guardiola, though, cannot count his chickens. Even though United haven’t really hit their straps yet, they’re hanging on like an unwanted admirer at the office Christmas party – and saw off Arsenal yesterday.
Conceding one goal in open play at Old Trafford in 24 hours’ playing time in the Premier League is a staggering achievement. It has been overlooked because Guardiola’s men have dropped just two points all season.
But if they can be defeated, the context changes. Momentum is huge and while no one would expect the wheels to fall off at the Etihad, the emphasis would change.
The points difference would be slashed. City would be within reach.
And, all of a sudden, last-minute goals – such as the beauty scored by Raheem Sterling in midweek against Southampton – become a necessity.
City are playing with glorious freedom. But pressure has a nasty habit of affecting the outcome.
That means the margin for error becomes less. It might mean that the Spaniard plays slightly stronger teams because he will be under pressure to win silver stuff.
That could have a knock-on effect as the season draws to a close. Realistically, only Mourinho can stop his noisy neighbours.