Oh, what a night. More than an hour after full-time, Bruno Fernandes was lingering on the Old Trafford pitch as he watched his children play in the Stretford End penalty area.
All of Fernandes's teammates had left, the majority eschewing a chaotic and crammed mixed zone. Freshly showered and clad in a club tracksuit, Fernandes had savoured a vibrant evening with the stands full and now they were empty.
Fernandes will have felt anything but emptiness. There is something wondrous about stadia when the turnstiles are locked and the floodlights are on.
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Fernandes was the first to hug Antony at full-time, lifting the matchwinner off his feet in front of the Stretford End. At the opposite end, the other Latino members began cheerleading so avidly they did not need pom poms.
Twice this season, Raphael Varane has approached the crowd in victory, their roar rising as Varane raises his hands. He first did it after United recovered from 1-0 down to beat Manchester City 2-1 last month. They did it again against Barcelona.
Varane promised the atmosphere would be electric on Thursday night. The players and supporters were charged. Varane did not encounter such a fervent bond during his 10 years playing in front of the Real Madrid supporters. Nor did Casemiro, celebrating nearby. Lisandro Martinez, an ardent Argentinian, beat the United crest at the full-time whistle.
Frenkie de Jong does not experience such adoration in Barcelona and he has embraced the sedate and sunny lifestyle in Catalonia. Should he relish the challenge of English football, the sales pitch at United is much more compelling now than it was in the summer.
"Frenkie, Frenkie, what's the score?" chirped the United fans as a deflated De Jong acknowledged the travelling Catalans. There was such a din he may not have heard them.
Such scenes reaffirm United are a credible force again but it goes beyond the intense identity Erik ten Hag has imbued the team with, his elite coaching and the resilient comebacks. There is a connection between players and supporters six months on from the away-dayers spitting 'You're not fit to wear the shirt' at Brentford.
That chant was uttered for possibly the first time in United history during the home win against Norwich 10 months ago when Paul Pogba was specifically targeted. "F--k off, Pogba," thousands chanted. Pogba cupped his ear in front of the angry mob stood by the tunnel and he soon disappeared down it for the final time. He never resurfaced to play at Old Trafford again.
Pogba was a lightning rod for United fans to air their grievances. He did not want to be in Manchester for the majority of his six years back at United yet the hierarchy and manager indulged him, pandered to him and kowtowed to him.
As essential as quality was with United's summer recruitment, their character was just as vital. The dressing room has been fumigated and United are teeming with players truly invested in playing for the club. Players and supporters have reconnected.
Wout Weghorst, hooked at half-time, was on the pitch at full-time. So was Harry Maguire. The dropped Marcel Sabitzer was one of the first to greet Antony in celebration. The south stand roof still leaks but the players are not leaking anymore.
The rapport is palpable. You saw it with Casemiro's celebration at the Shed End in October, after Alejandro Garnacho's added-time winner at Fulham in November, after Cristiano Ronaldo's divorce and with every seismic victory. Bring on Spaniards by the score, indeed.
One of Ronaldo's supporters wailed to this correspondent "you don't know what's really going on at Man United", as if skulduggery is afoot. What is going on is something special.
Many Mancunians will not care for the comparison, but United are reminiscent of Liverpool at their zenith under Jurgen Klopp. United have aspired to reach Liverpool's level of quality, success and harmony in the last five years and they are not far off it now.
Silverware was pitchside on Thursday night and the Europa League trophy was so treasured by United when they won it in 2017 the vase was among the hand luggage for the pre-season tour of the United States. So was the League Cup. It would be especially galling for United if they somehow ended this campaign trophyless.
Back in the makeshift mixed zone, the United chief executive Richard Arnold made an impromptu appearance and briefly spoke to the dedicated correspondents. He had just congratulated the players in the dressing room.
Outside, Fernandes was reliving the night.
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