Many football fans were left astounded when Man City spent around £130m on three full-backs, Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy and Danilo, over the summer. However, on the pitch those the reason behind those investments is becoming clear.
The two most expensive of those full-backs, Mendy and Walker have started City's last three games and the opposition have paid a heavy price. Guardiola's side have demolished Liverpool, Feyenoord and Watford with a combined score of 15-0.
In those games, the two defenders dominated both flanks, flying up and down in a way which suggested the term "full-back" is now an outdated term.
Pep Guardiola has been quick to highlight the influence of his new pricey defenders with their performances so far.
“[Mendy and Walker] are having a big impact, Danilo too,” says the City boss.
“They are young – Mendy is 23 and Kyle (27) is also young enough. They have huge energy to go up and it stretches our play and means we can have more players in the middle to do the short passes.
"I like our passes to be three, four, five or six metres, no more than that. It gives us continuity.
"We create spaces in behind and you need players in those positions. Without these signings it would have been more complicated.”
Guardiola's words were proven to be true at Vicarage Road as Mendy and Walker's marauding runs allowed Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva to flit in-field as they pleased.
The two full-backs have certainly had an impressive start to life at Man City and could well justify their hefty price tags by the end of the season.