The stark truth about most football fans is that they are malleable. Give them something to cheer on the field and they will go home happy and turn up again next time round. The power of the actual sport remains absolute.
So this – in the end and against all odds – was a much better day for Manchester United. It was an afternoon that began with protest and ended with a lap of honour by Ruben Amorim's players.
The 75,000 United supporters who were here stayed to the end and went home talking less about the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe and more about their captain Bruno Fernandes and young central defender Ayden Heaven.