All of a sudden, the very competition that convinced Cristiano Ronaldo he had to leave Manchester United is the one offering the Portugal star the best chance of a start under Erik ten Hag.
The ignominy of playing Europa League football was the primary reason given by Ronaldo for wanting to cut short his second stint at Old Trafford after just 12 months.
Not since he was a teenager launching his professional career at Sporting has Ronaldo had to lower himself to playing on Thursday nights — a first-round tie against Partizan Belgrade in what was still the old UEFA Cup 20 years ago.