The build-up to Manchester City's trip to Aston Villa was centred so much around Jack Grealish that in Pep Guardiola's pre-match press conference, at one the manager sat back, raised his arms, and suggested Grealish himself should be there instead.
It was an understandable reaction to yet another question about Grealish's start to life at City and the reception he could get back at Villa Park, but so was the interest in Britain's most expensive player returning to the club he made his name at.
The truth is Grealish hasn't been as good at City as he was at Villa. He alluded to the reasons himself this week, offering an interesting tactical analysis of his different role under Guardiola than when he was the main man at Villa.
Guardiola dismissed the idea that Grealish needed a season to really get 'back to his best', telling the £100m man he expected him to show his best this season. It was intended as a vote of confidence, of sorts.
But Grealish's fitness meant he wouldn't start at Villa Park, instead being named on the bench. He emerged a good five minutes after the rest of the City squad to warm-up, to a mixture of booing and applause from the Villa fans who took their seats early. That would continue when the full house took their seats.
Without the need to warm-up for a starting role, Grealish spent pre-match launching balls at Phil Foden, and the pair soon enjoyed a competitive crossbar challenge. When Grealish hit the woodwork from 35 yards, he looked as pleased as all those times he has scored here previously. He even delayed his return to the dressing room to have one last go.
It would take until the second half for Grealish to emerge for a warm-up, so City fans ensured there was some jeering in the first 45 as they quickly reminded Steven Gerrard of his 2014 title-defining slip. As the Holte End mocked City's lack of European title, the visitors hit back with a rendition of 'Championes'.
When City made it two before half time, the away end gleefully sang 'Gerrard's at the Wheel'. The noise ramped up soon after half time as Ollie Watkins pulled one back, moments after Grealish had belatedly taken his seat for the second half.
Even when he was sent out to warm-up, he was starting to be treated to more warm applause than sustained criticism. Maybe all the social media hate towards him from disgruntled Villa fans is yet to properly reach Villa Park.
After all, Grealish gave these fans some of their best recent memories, and is a former captain who gave his all for the club. No home supporter on Wednesday night could argue that Grealish isn't in a better team to win trophies. Villa gave a good account of themselves, but were still second best to City's B-Team.
That's not to disrespect the hosts, who played their part in a competitive encounter on and off the field. More to remind any remaining boo-ers that maybe Grealish made the right decision, and that his love for Villa remains as strong as it ever was. Any glimpse of his smile on his first trip back to this stadium was enough evidence of that.
In the end, Grealish was only given five minutes, as Guardiola says he is returning to full fitness. Some boo-ed, but most applauded as the jeers subsided, and it was nothing more than the strange boo-ing he's received at other away grounds this season. Even those boos were half-hearted by the end, with Villa's message of choice in response to his introduction a rousing rendition of 'Villa 'till I die.'
At full time, he walked alone to the Holte End, who turned their boos to almost unanimous applause as he walked down the tunnel. By the end of the night, the love had emphatically outweighed the hate.
Perhaps this was exactly the kind of return he needed - to show his face, take some stick, but remind his former adoring fans that he's still one of them at heart. It could also take away one nagging doubt on his mind in the opening months of his City career.
He floated the idea of a permanent return to Villa in future before this game, and that was met with a few raised eyebrows given the talk since his departure. That might not be so fanciful after his low-key evening back at his old home.
