Ross Barkley remembers a Sunday afternoon at Goodison Park a little over two years ago. He was still at Everton then, playing under the guidance of Ronald Koeman in the Dutchman's first season at the club.
The man stood in the away dugout was also experiencing his maiden campaign with a new team. He had just watched on as Barkley set up two goals in a 4-0 victory for Everton. That team was Manchester City and that manager was Pep Guardiola.
Not only was that result the heaviest of his career, it also put Man City 10 points behind leaders Chelsea and left them outside the top four.
Ross Barkley has pointed to early criticism of Pep Guardiola, as Maurizio Sarri struggles
It was January, and Pep had already been rechristened Fraudiola, the Bald Fraud. This so-called genius of Barcelona and Bayern Munich was, clearly, unable to hack it in the Premier League.
Barkley recalls this memory in response to a question about the turbulence being endured at his current club Chelsea under the stewardship of Maurizio Sarri.
Another manager, previously hailed as a genius, this time with a philosophy on football so unique it is named after him, struggling to implement his 'Sarri-ball' in his first season in the Premier League.
Three league defeats in four, including a 4-0 drubbing at Bournemouth and 6-0 to Man City, who Chelsea play again today in the Carabao Cup final.
Barkley's point is clear: look at Man City then. Look at them now. Sarri, despite the recent troubles, has actually won a game more after his first 43 matches in charge of Chelsea than Guardiola managed in the same period.
The Italian appears to be on borrowed time following a poor run of results with the Blues
'We're learning every day,' says Barkley. 'We are all top-class players and we all want to learn more. If you compare Pep Guardiola's first season, they went through a bit of an up-and-down spell. When I was at Everton, we beat them 4-0.
'We have got ambition to be one of the best footballing sides in the world. We're
