Erik ten Hag picked the same team for Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Real Betis that had been humiliated by Liverpool four days earlier.
It gave Manchester United the opportunity to show that Sunday’s 7-0 defeat at Anfield had been a blip rather than a fall from grace.
The team was barely recognisable from that day, with Bruno Fernandes leading the charge rather than begging to be subbed off.
“He was the best player on the pitch,” said Ten Hag after the 4-1 home win. “He played a little deeper role and he was brilliant, making the game from the back position, with a lot of good passes in between the lines. From there we created a lot of chances.
“His passion is his strength,” added Ten Hag. “But sometimes he has to control that because when it’s too much, it becomes a weakness. He knows that, but there are always small margins.”