Christian Eriksen is already improving the Manchester United dressing room

This pre-season has served as a reminder - not that it was needed - of what a privilege it is travelling the world and covering sport's most scrutinised institution in Manchester United.

Mercifully, the Zoom era is over and handshakes are the norm again in the company of the manager or a player. Over the last few weeks, the dedicated United correspondents have spoken to Victor Lindelof, Fred, Tyrell Malacia, Anthony Elanga, Bruno Fernandes, David de Gea, Diogo Dalot, Tom Heaton and Christian Eriksen. None of them were sat behind a desk in front of an auditorium.

For cynics like this one, there is still a buzz when you are in the company of a player in a surreptitious setting. De Gea dominates a room like the goal and Fernandes is as engaging a talker as you could hope for.

Also read: Eriksen reveals he held talks with three United managers before joining club

After the draw with Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, two of us were escorted down the south stand steps, along the pitch, past the dugouts and into the Old Trafford tunnel to a cavernous room to speak with Christian Eriksen.

Away from intrusive cameras and hanger-ons after a selfie or a fist-bump, we had around six minutes with Eriksen until he was informed one of the coaches required his attention.

Eriksen, an Ajax-schooled playmaker compared with the Laudrup brothers in his youth, has radiated awe for several years and has been one of the eminent playmakers in European football over the last decade.

There is immense goodwill towards him after what happened in Copenhagen last year - something he is reluctant to discuss anymore. We were as grateful to be in his presence as he is just to still be here, never mind at United.

Eriksen first played at Old Trafford with Ajax in