A special leap of faith for United

As Jose Mourinho eased himself into the dugout at Old Trafford, acknowledging his opposite number as he did so, he briefly and pointedly caught the eye of Chelsea’s captain as the defender walked past; it was a look of mutual respect, of shared history, of shared memories.

But it was also the look of a rival.

Some seven years earlier, John Terry had been Mourinho’s main man, his lieutenant on the pitch and inspiration in the dressing room, and they had always remained in contact. But since the Special One accepted the job he believed no other manager could handle — to be Alex Ferguson successor at Old Trafford — things had changed.