Erik ten Hag continues to get big calls right at Old Trafford and even when sentiment might, ordinarily, come into the reckoning he has seen the situation with more clarity than anyone else.
Rewind to the summer months as Manchester United prepared to embark on the pre-season tour which saw them take in Thailand and Australia to sharpen up their shooting boots for the season. Despite his absence for family reasons, it was Cristiano Ronaldo who took centre stage.
But that was before the squad touched backed down in Manchester. In the intervening period, Ten Hag gave Anthony Martial an unexpected lifeline and Marcus Rashford took the first steps in his astounding redemption.
