Erik ten Hag was unequivocal about the role Anthony Martial has to play in this version of Manchester United, and what he means to them.
In a season plagued by injury after seasons plagued by other issues, Martial finally showed why his manager was so effusive about him on the eve of this quarter-final.
United, Ten Hag revealed, are a better team with the 27-year-old in it. The statistics seem to back that up, with them winning all nine of his starts this term – although a few of those were in domestic cup competitions.