Pep Guardiola was as good as his word after promising heart-broken Manchester City fans that he intends Sergio Aguero to go out in a blaze of glory.
The worst-case scenario for everyone - club, manager, supporters, and the Argentine legend - was always going to be that City's pursuit of four trophies would submerge any sentimentality over the farewell to their all-time top goalscorer.
By picking Aguero for a game against Leicester, Guardiola got off on the right foot - although it was also a canny, pragmatic selection to make on many levels.
Firstly, Aguero was one of the six-strong group of players who remained in Manchester during the international break, and so were rested, physically and mentally, as the Blues plunge into a roller-coaster two months which promise so much but could still be ruined by fatigue and injury.
Five of those six started, with the other - Nathan Ake - still making his way back after a long injury lay-off.
The fact that City also got the win justified that decision, and also served to keep that group of players - no doubt disgruntled at a lack of international action and, in some cases City involvement - feeling part of the push.
Guardiola said that Aguero's response in training has been excellent since he had the tough task of sitting down with the 32-year-old to tell him he would not be offered a new contract when his current deal expires this summer.
He was never going to tell the world if Kun had actually given up and spat out his dummy on the training pitch, but by picking him to start, the manager underlined the truth of his words.
But no one is under any illusions. It was a smart team selection, but it was one that clearly had an eye on the Borussia Dortmund game on Tuesday.
Losing or drawing at Leicester would have little consequence for City, with their padded lead at the top of the Premier League, but anything but a decent win against the Bundesliga side would be far-reaching.
The chances of Aguero starting in that one are slim indeed, with Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva all queuing up to return to the team, and all in fine form.
Aguero looked rusty at the King Power, just as he did in his last start, at Fulham three weeks ago.
It is too early to say whether that is just the natural consequence of being out injured for so long and being short of match practice or whether, as the Blues seem to feel, a symptom of the inevitable decline of a legend.
It is feasible to see Guardiola turning to Aguero in a situation where he desperately needs a goal in the fateful two months which are rushing upon us, but his starts may well be few and far between, and perhaps restricted to league games with little jeopardy, and possibly the Carabao Cup final, as a nod to romance.
It was noticeable that City's pressing was not as fierce and effective as normal with Aguero leading the line, and Gabriel Jesus pushed out wide.
The Brazil number nine is often held up against Aguero in terms of his goalscoring numbers, but in this game, it was Aguero who came out on the wrong side of the comparison.
Jesus was competitive, quick, dangerous and grabbed a goal, while Aguero was restricted to a couple of wild volleys and very little contribution.
It almost feels heretical to be dissecting Aguero's performance in this way, at the twilight end of a quite magnificent decade with City, but every game in which he is a shadow of his former self is another confirmation of the correctness of the club's decision.
Jesus feels like a player who is bubbling under, who could emerge from the daunting shadow of a legend to become a legendary striker in his own right.
And with Guardiola saying that the club cannot afford to buy Erling Haaland or any other expensive new striker this summer - whether you believe him or not - the horizon is opening up for Jesus, who celebrated his 24th birthday with a killer second goal which he crafted and finished.
We saw Fernandinho blossom after Yaya Toure left, and there is no reason Jesus cannot do the same - the talent and the work ethic are there.
