One by one, they came back out on to the pitch for the encore. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Bruno Fernandes and, yes of course, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Post-match media duties on the touchline at Old Trafford turned into some kind of victory parade. As they were interviewed on camera, you could barely hear them speak. For more than an hour after the final whistle, hundreds of Manchester United fans stayed behind to celebrate and savour what felt like a momentous occasion.
There was only one name on their lips. ‘Viva Ronaldo’ they chanted over and over.