Eyebrows were raised when, in the injury absence of Alvaro Morata, Luis Enrique did not name a recognised striker in his Spain squad for the Nations League finals.
There are similar cries of derision being aimed at Pep Guardiola for not lining up an alternative striker to sign after Manchester City's protracted summer pursuit of Harry Kane failed.
But maybe, just maybe, those two Champions League-winning managers know something us mere mortals don't.
They clearly both see a potential in Ferran Torres to develop into a top class striker and are actively helping him do this season, to great effect already.