The obvious sign that things at Chelsea are not as harmonious as last season is the results.
But Chelsea's problems felt bigger on Sunday when, for perhaps the first time in her tenure, manager Sonia Bompastor dropped subtle hints of internal frustration.
She repeatedly highlighted the squad's lack of depth, insisting it was not what it was last season, and touched on how that limited her ability to switch things up tactically, or to rotate players to keep them fresh.
Pressed on whether she had wanted more from their summer recruitment, Bompastor smiled and simply said: "Without making too many comments on that, I would have liked to have been in a better place from the last transfer window."
A squad still packed full of talent and experience has looked bereft of ideas and lacking ruthlessness.
The 'mentality monsters' of recent seasons are no longer perceived to be invincible as they look more vulnerable defensively and less clinical up front.
According to Opta, they are underperforming their expected goals tally by more than any other team (24 scored from 29 expected) and in their 2-0 defeat by Arsenal, they had 18 shots but only one on target.
It was a rare sight to see Chelsea's players look so dejected at Etihad Stadium and they appeared to fall apart in a second half where City toyed with them.
Bompastor said she was not concerned, but with fans increasingly questioning her tactics and the players looking short of confidence, does she remain convinced she is the right person for the job?
"In the club, if people think I'm not the right person to stay in this job, then I'll be happy to go if they think that's the right thing. But I will never give up," she said.
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