It was often said that Manchester United would beat teams before the match ever began. As opposing teams came to Old Trafford and stood in the tunnel prior to kick off, they would look at their opposite numbers and feel the fear of God come over them.
David Beckham. Roy Keane. Paul Scholes. Ryan Giggs. Ruud van Nistelrooy. Gary Neville. Rio Ferdinand. What were you meant to do against such a prolifically brilliant team?
The fear that teams felt paralysed them before they ever even stepped foot on a blade of grass. And they would subsequently be dismantled in front of a baying Old Trafford crowd, eaten alive thanks to their crippling terror.