Jose Mourinho and Manchester United will set about conquering a new European frontier as their Champions League campaign gets underway against Basel at Old Trafford.
But do they have enough to challenge the rest of European’s elite? And what storylines are there to look out for ahead of the opening match?
We pick out the three main talking points below …
Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling had been twiddling their thumbs while centre-backs Eric Bailly and Phil Jones made a confident start to the season, but the chinks in that particular armour were ruthlessly exposed by… Stoke.
Bailly and Jones were at fault for both goals in the 2-2 draw and if Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is enough to make their knees wobbly – this is a man who scored three times for Schalke last year – one wonders what European’s elite can do.
Basel, of course, are a few rungs short of the best but Lindelof and Smalling have a real chance to impress Jose Mourinho, who yesterday insisted the duo are ‘the same level as (Bailly and Jones), just different players’.
Bailly and Jones’ red-hot start to the season won’t be discounted by the boss going forward – but this battle at the back is one to watch.
Victor Lindelof in action during pre-season
The last time United stomped on all-comers on their way to the Champions League knockout stages was, of course, under the great David Moyes.
The Scot relied on the remnants of Fergie’s experienced squad to finish top of their group with 12 points and 12 goals, as Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney – who made a competition-high eight assists – led the way.
Worryingly, the majority of the current crop have very few Champions League minutes. Marcus Rashford is yet to make an appearance. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has made seven, but zero goals and zero assists.
The most European glamour Romelu Lukaku has experienced is against perennial Welsh champions TNS with Anderlecht. That’s not a lot of attacking know-how.
United’s squad flourished in the Europa League and that will help somewhat – but Michael Carrick is the only Champions League winner in the entire squad, with Paul Pogba a losing finalist.
They will have to learn as they go along. Is it a season too soon to expect big things?
Marcus Rashford is yet to make an appearance in the Champions League
Mourinho often gives the impression of a protective father when discussing the qualities of Marouane Fellaini in front of the media.
He quipped that Galatasaray had more chance signing him than Fellaini when rumours started swirling during the transfer window, and seemed distressed that the big Belgian was injured for the game against Stoke.
There is no guarantee that the 29-year-old will return for tonight’s match but is worth nothing that in Mourinho’s eyes, his presence is ‘more important than you can imagine’.
Just take a look at how he was utilised in the Europa League last season. He played a whopping 11 games, starting in seven, and won a competition record 15 aerial duels in the final.
If United are still a step behind Real Madrid, Juventus et al, they at least have a unique weapon in Fellaini. It’ll go one of two ways – he’ll be an unsung hero or an elbow-flinging disaster.
Fellaini missed the international break with a calf injury
