Manchester United are changing their mentality as Erik ten Hag demanded

There will be a significant part of Manchester United's history forever tied to the Nou Camp. It was the scene of their greatest modern triumph in 1999, the masterpiece of Sir Alex Ferguson's 26 years in charge.

The Champions League final against Bayern Munich was their greatest night and Ferguson's teams have become the measuring stick for every new United manager.

Four years ago they returned to the city with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and wallowed in the nostalgia of a goalscorer from that final now being the manager, but they were embarrassed on the pitch and looked miles away from Europe's elite. It was a familiar feeling.

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Erik ten Hag will know a Europa League tie in February can never scratch the surface of the emotions and the magnitude of that end-of-May night 24 years ago, but for the circumstances, this was a significant performance. Have United ever played better against Barcelona in this stadium? Possibly not.

This was a Thursday night contest, in a round billed as a play-off for Europe's B-list competition, played at teatime rather than primetime, but what it lacked in status it more than made up for in entertainment and drama.

The first 45 minutes were a heavyweight slugfest for a lightweight belt. The Europa League can never have had it so good and they know it won't last. Whoever progresses from this tie to the last-16 in March will be favourites to lift the trophy in Budapest at the end of the season.

United have become too familiar with Thursday-night football in recent seasons, but under Ten Hag they are headed back for the big time. The Dutchman raced away from his press conference on Wednesday to tune into Arsenal vs City and the result