"One of the great qualities of a coach is patience," mused Sir Alex Ferguson when asked how Ole Gunnar Solskjær has been faring on the United coaching staff since injury ended his career. "Ole's got that."
The United manager could have been speaking for himself. It is nine years since he last reached the final of the UEFA Champions League, and judging by his ebullient mood on Tuesday as he prepared to take on Chelsea FC, the wait, though long, has been worth it. It required patience before Sir Alex, seven years into the job at Old Trafford, won his first league title for United, and more patience still to finally lift the European Champion Clubs' Cup.