In the Wembley sunshine it was a tiring exercise just watching Manchester United's midfield, never mind playing in it. Against Manchester City's metronomic treble winners, the players in red couldn't get close for large periods of the game.
If the cup final was the moment Erik ten Hag went from lukewarm to cold on David de Gea, maybe it was also the moment the idea of signing another midfielder crystallised in his mind.
United's starters that day were Casemiro, 31, Christian Eriksen, 31, and Fred, 30. Bruno Fernandes, on the wing at Wembley, turns 29 in September.
United's midfield was experienced, but it was also ageing. The addition of Eriksen on a free transfer last summer was a shrewd bit of business, but he looked to tire as the season went on and, either side of the ankle injury that kept him out for three months, probably started more than expected.