Barcelona are synonymous with everything good. As they went to collect their winners' medal, there was a shot of United's players clapping as if they were resigned to defeat, as if this were an event of inevitability. Perhaps, it was. Indeed, they were outclassed as many observers had predicted by a team that are not destined for greatness, for they are already there.

It's not often Manchester United go into a game, any game, as underdogs. But that evening in Rome still lives long in memory (Patrice Evra: "It hurt so much when we lost. We did the team pictures the following season. We had three trophies. But we were missing the one with the big ears.