In 2004, a brooding Portuguese coach in the early years of his career came to Old Trafford with his Porto team and pilfered Manchester United's place in the Champions League quarter-finals. Then, as now, Jose Mourinho was being spoken about as a possible successor to Sir Alex Ferguson. Since then, he has won two Champions League titles as well as an array of other trophies at Chelsea, Inter and, latterly, Real Madrid. Make no mistake, los Blancos will be more pleased with this draw than United. After finishing second to Borussia Dortmund, the Liga champions were in the lap of the gods.

After topping an easy group containing Galatasaray as their nearest challengers, United must have thought a more favourable tie lay in store in the knock-outs. But it hasn't worked out like that. United have not been tested yet and they now need to lift their game several notches above what it has been so far. Mourinho had an audition for the United job once before and passed it. Now, a nearly a decade later, he is back and, with Ferguson in his twilight years, this could be the first of many more Old Trafford appearances for Jose. The Special One's scriptwriters have bestowed upon him another fascinating plot twist.