Nothing won but looking good

Manchester United 2 Everton

Who wouldn’t be, with a return ticket to Madrid nestling in the back pocket, whether figuratively or literally? But after Barry and Hart’s attempts to succeed those other infamous Blues, Little and Large, in the mirthmaking stakes, who could blame us for striding down Warwick Road yesterday with the confidence of would-be conquistadors? !

Everton were dispatched in a manner I thought we’d abandoned some time ago: with businesslike application and brow-furrowed determination from minute one. The defensive solidity was especially impressive, for the third time in recent weeks after months of shipping goals: David de Gea had hardly anything to do but did it well when he had to.