Ronan O'Gara: When it all goes pear-shaped in the first ten minutes

What renders us helpless is watching a bad opening first period and knowing that there isn’t a lot you can do about it.

La Rochelle' Irish head coach Ronan O'Gara looks on ahead of the French Top14 rugby union match between Union Bordeaux-Begles and La Rochele. Picture:  ROMAIN PERROCHEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

IT was interesting to see Pep Guardiola remonstrate with his goalkeeper, Ederson, in the immediate aftermath of Man City’s opening goal against Arsenal on Wednesday. Always and ever locked to the ‘ON’ position. There was something in their detail agitating the coach, an element they had drilled in time and again. Even if the malfunction ultimately led to de Bruyne’s first goal, it was bad practice, evidently.

Staying in the now is as important for a coach as a player. Standards are underpinned by having your head in the game Monday to Friday. No let up, no detail left to chance or perhaps.