TERRACE TALK: Man United - Jose Mourinho has put special swagger back in our step

Our reaction on next weekend’s international break tells you something about what The Special One has already changed at Old Trafford. 

For the past three seasons, these interregnums have invariably been greeted with a collective sigh of relief, usually signalling the chance for Poor David or Van Loony to heal one of the developing open wounds. A chance seldom taken, which is why Ed Woodward finally had to bite the bullet and call for Dr José.

Now, suddenly, we’re back in the Good Old Days, when internationals were habitually a trigger for us to bemoan such unwanted impediments to our flow. United fixtures have gone from being something almost to be feared to Events with a capital E relished in the anticipation, and then devoured with the pleasure of a gourmand.