For reasons that really can only be explained by the players themselves, the Red Devils haved 'turned up' in Europe, and a 3-0 semi-final first-leg win over Athletic Club in the Europa League puts them on the cusp of the final, coincidentally to be played at Athletic's stunning San Mames stadium.
Unless they are incredibly complacent at Old Trafford in the return their path to the final should be a relatively easy one and history is on United's side.
Ruben Amorim delighted by first-leg result in Bilbao
133 teams have won the first leg of a UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League knockout stage tie by three or more goals away from home, and all 133 have progressed from/won the tie.
Thursday night also saw United’s biggest away win in a semi-final of a major European competition, and the manner of the performance left Amorim impressed.
"I think this is the best result because nobody expected this," he told reporters in his post-match press conference. "We created chances, but the most important thing is that the opponent didn't get shots at our goal."
From the manager's point of view, the joy of European success has to be tempered by a pathetic showing domestically.
To put United's diametrically opposed form into context, they've now won more games in the Europa League (seven wins in nine matches) under Amorim than in the Premier League (six in 23). The Red Devils have also only scored three goals fewer under the Portuguese manager in European competition (24) than in the league (27).
His contention that United limited Athletic Club in terms of shots is true in part. They still had nine shots in the game compared to the visitors 14, but only three from the hosts were on target (seven for United).
Athletic's heaviest home defeat in all competitions for seven years
To put the three goal half-time cushion into further context, United last scored three first-half goals in a knockout stage away game in major European competition in the 1965/66 European Cup quarter-finals against Benfica.
By contrast, Athletic Club suffered their heaviest home defeat in all competitions since a 3-0 LaLiga defeat to Villarreal in September 2018. Prior to Thursday night, Los Leones had only conceded two goals at home in their six Europa League games this season combined.
The three goals also took the Red Devils tally to 31, the most of any team in this season's competition, and they've scored two or more goals in 10 different games - their joint-most times in a campaign of major European football alongside the 2002/03 Champions League.
Bruno Fernandes remains Man United's most important player
Fernandes bagged a brace in Bilbao to help hand United the advantage in the tie, and only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (56) has been directly involved in more goals for a Premier League side in all competitions this season than the Portuguese (35 – 19 goals, 16 assists).
United's captain (with 27 goals) is also now only behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (34) and Radamel Falcao (30) in terms of goals scored in the Europa League, and he's the joint-leading assister in the competition (18 – level with Dries Mertens), denoting his huge importance to this emerging side.
On the night, however, he was one of many visiting players that can hold their heads high.
For a start, not many teams have gone to San Mames and come away having dominated the ball with 72.6% possession.
The red card which ultimately led to United's second from the spot almost certainly played a part in the visitors being able to knock the ball around and work the hosts harder than they would've liked, however, Athletic Club aren't a side that are known to lie down for anyone and therefore Amorim can be enthused by the way in which his team didn't really let Ernesto Valverde's men build up a head of steam.
Basque giants were disappointing in many areas against Red Devils
Although Athletic were as dogged as their Premier League opponents, winning 11 of their 18 tackles compared to United's 12, and their 10 interceptions trumped United's seven, when it mattered, the Basque giants were found wanting.
228 passes to the Red Devils' 631 and only 63.4% pass completion in the opposition half, compared to 83.7%, tells its own story.
Unusually for the Basque side, the accuracy from players as Inaki Williams (41.7%), Nico Williams (53.3%) and Oscar de Marcos (62.5%) was way off, and up against a team where Harry Maguire (97.1%), Victor Lindelof (97%) and Leny Yoro (92.5%) led the way, it was always going to be an uphill struggle.
Valverde is bound to also be unhappy that his side couldn't capitalise on United losing possession an incredible 117 times in the game, and that the visitors only allowed them 14 touches in total inside the box.
Fourth in LaLiga at present and playing well, it was a real off night for the Basques. The first-leg result will, however, force Valverde to bin his usual cautious approach at Old Trafford, and that's likely to play right into United's hands.
