It might be devastating for every other football fan across the country, but the decade of fun, laughter and derision at Manchester United's expense is over. They'd better have filled their boots because the banter era has come to a close.
The swagger is back. The confidence to walk into the Camp Nou and not give a single expletive about the baying crowd, the gravitas of Barcelona, and the weight of history. It was as if to say: 'We are Manchester United and we're here to play'.
Erik ten Hag's side didn't win in Catalonia but they might have got something even better - their reputation of a serious and quality team capable of playing at the highest level back. There have been some brilliant victories this season and the improvement has been as drastic as it has remarkable, but Thursday's match was a statement performance.
