The UEFA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford attracted as many as 50,000 supporters, while countless media outlets turned their attention towards the Theatre of Dreams.
For New Manchester United, being able to play at this stadium really did feel like a dream.
The supporters, however, did not take particular pride in it.
Their true pride was not located in the southwest of Manchester, but in the east of the city, where an even more spectacular stadium was rapidly taking shape, one that had already attracted attention from clubs and supporters across Europe.
That would be the home that truly belonged to them.
The ultimate destination of every Red Rebels supporter.
Old Trafford, by comparison, was little more than temporary accommodation in their eyes, somewhere to stay until their real home was completed.
Even so, it had maintained its reputation as a formidable place for visiting teams.
The atmosphere at New Manchester United matches was noticeably different from Manchester United home games.
Red Rebels supporters always seemed particularly intense, capable of producing an intimidating atmosphere from the first whistle until the last.
The same stadium, two different clubs, and two completely different home cultures.
It had become one of the more unusual sights at Old Trafford that season.
And if New Manchester United were promoted to the Premier League, the contrast would become even more interesting the following year.
The biggest question before this match concerned who would replace the suspended Kaká and Juninho.
Mourinho had kept his plans completely secret.
It was only shortly before kick-off that everyone discovered, to considerable surprise, that New Manchester United had changed formation.
They had almost always used a 4-2-3-1.
Tonight, Mourinho switched to a 4-3-3.
And at the base of the three-man midfield was Redondo.
...
"According to the information we received before the match, Redondo had been dealing with a minor physical problem and was considered doubtful," Andy Gray said in surprise.
"Yet not only is he available, Mourinho has trusted him with a starting role.
"That's certainly unexpected."
"Just as surprising is Mourinho's decision to remove the attacking midfielder entirely and use Essien and Yaya Touré as the two central midfielders ahead of Redondo.
"Could he really be planning to sit back and defend at home?"
Martin Samuel shook his head.
"I don't think so.
"Knowing Mourinho, especially at home, I can't imagine him settling for a draw.
"He'll want to establish an advantage here.
"If he plans to defend at any point in this tie, it'll surely be in the away leg.
"The reason for using Essien and Yaya Touré is quite straightforward.
"He wants stronger ball-winning and interception through the middle."
"Midfield has always been one of the most important areas in New Manchester United's system.
"They want to compete for control there in every match.
"With Kaká and Juninho both suspended, Mourinho has simply pushed Essien and Yaya Touré higher to disrupt Lazio, while Redondo controls the tempo from behind them.
"Then the front three can attack quickly on the counter.
"It's actually very similar to something they used last season."
"Drogba gives them tremendous power through the middle, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Hleb are both quick, technically gifted players on the wings.
"All three are dangerous individually, but they also combine very well.
"Cristiano Ronaldo in particular has improved enormously over the course of the season."
Andy Gray nodded.
Lazio, meanwhile, retained their familiar 4-4-2.
Their midfield consisted of Simone Inzaghi, Simeone, Fiore, and Stanković, all experienced and battle-hardened players.
Up front were Corradi and Claudio López.
The back four consisted of Oddo, Stam, Mihajlović, and Favalli, with Peruzzi in goal.
...
"The main battleground tonight is midfield."
Before the match, Mourinho stood in front of the tactical board as he gave out his final instructions.
"Corradi and López complement each other very well.
"Corradi is tall, strong, and excellent in the air.
"López is technically gifted and intelligent with his movement.
"But if we cut the supply from midfield, Corradi becomes isolated."
He looked towards the wings.
"Cristiano, Alexander, both of you need to track back more.
"Move constantly between the lines and help suppress their attacks down the flanks.
"When we're defending, make sure we deal with Corradi first and then react quickly to the second ball.
"Michael, Yaya, I want a wall in midfield.
"Don't let them play through your zone easily."
The players listened carefully and nodded.
"Didier, I want you pulling Stam away from the penalty area whenever possible.
"Drop deeper.
"Create space for the wingers to cut inside.
"And when Cristiano or Alexander does come inside, be aggressive and decisive.
"Don't hesitate.
"Trust the players behind you.
"Even if you lose possession, believe they'll win it back."
Mourinho then looked towards the full-backs.
"Patrice, Kolo, I want you positioned higher whenever the situation allows it.
"Help us overload the flanks and increase the pressure in midfield.
"We have to control the middle of the pitch tonight."
He tapped the tactical board.
"Remember the combinations we've practised.
"Keep it simple.
"Keep it quick.
"Don't allow this to become a slow tactical battle against an Italian side.
"Once Lazio settle into their defensive shape, breaking them down will become extremely difficult.
"We need to do the damage in the first half."
Mourinho then looked at Redondo.
The Argentine met his gaze and gave him a reassuring nod.
According to the data from the Lab, Redondo was only capable of playing one half at full competitive intensity.
From the beginning, Mourinho had been calculating how to make the most of those forty-five minutes and use them to cause Lazio as much trouble as possible.
...
The referee blew his whistle.
Lazio kicked off.
From the opening minutes, the visitors were clearly patient.
Their three lines remained extremely compact, and their approach was obvious.
Even if they could not score, they were determined not to make the first mistake.
Among Lazio's four midfielders, Fiore and Simone Inzaghi operated from the flanks, while Simeone and Stanković occupied the centre.
Simeone generally held the deeper position.
Most of Lazio's attacks were initiated down the wings, with Corradi providing a powerful aerial target through the middle.
New Manchester United's defending on the flanks, however, was extremely aggressive.
Essien and Yaya Touré repeatedly shifted wide to help.
The full-backs also took up advanced positions to close down Lazio's wide players early.
As a result, Lazio struggled to establish their usual attacks from the wings.
Even when they occasionally managed to deliver a cross, Corradi found himself tightly marked by Curtis.
In the physical battles, the striker gained almost no advantage at all.
New Manchester United were equally patient.
Their first objective was to control midfield and gradually impose their own rhythm on the match.
Because of that, they showed little attacking aggression during the opening fifteen minutes.
But once Lazio's attacking threat had been contained, the Red Rebels began preparing their counter-attacks.
Although Cristiano Ronaldo and Hleb frequently tracked back, their movements followed a very clear pattern.
When Lazio attacked down New Manchester United's left, Cristiano Ronaldo dropped back to help defend, while Hleb remained higher on the opposite side, ready to break forward.
When the pressure came down the other flank, the same principle was reversed.
If Evra stepped aggressively forward to challenge, Terry shifted across to cover behind him, while Kolo Touré tucked back into the defensive line.
The coordination between attack and defence had already become highly structured.
Every player understood what he was supposed to do and when he was supposed to do it.
Redondo, meanwhile, operated almost like a deep-lying playmaker with freedom to roam across the deeper areas of midfield.
He rarely engaged in direct physical battles.
Instead, he relied on experience, positioning, and anticipation.
He read passing lanes before they developed, positioned himself to receive from teammates, and intercepted whenever the opportunity appeared.
Mourinho had also given him another responsibility.
The moment the opportunity appeared, attack immediately.
With Evra, Terry, Curtis, and Kolo Touré forming the back four, Essien and Yaya Touré protecting the midfield, and Drogba pressing from the front, Mourinho's defensive structure completely suppressed Lazio's attack during the opening fifteen minutes.
But that was only the first part of the plan.
The next step was far more important.
The counter-attack.
Because Drogba had been dropping very deep and both wingers were working hard defensively, Lazio's back line gradually pushed higher to support their midfield.
The full-backs in particular began advancing more frequently.
Mourinho stood on the touchline and watched Favalli, on the side nearest him, repeatedly move forward.
He turned towards Cassell and smiled.
Cassell returned the smile confidently.
This was exactly what they had been waiting for.
In the 21st minute, Essien intercepted possession in the left half-space and played the ball backwards to Evra.
Evra immediately moved it inside to Terry.
Terry carried the ball forward several yards before passing to Redondo.
Redondo had already seen the opportunity.
While appearing to help with the defensive phase, he had quietly drifted into space.
He controlled the ball and immediately sent a long pass over Lazio's defensive line.
The delivery dropped perfectly into the gap between Stam and Favalli.
Hleb burst diagonally into the space.
His acceleration allowed him to reach the ball ahead of Favalli.
He took it in stride, used his body to protect possession from the recovering defender, and drove into the penalty area.
Peruzzi rushed from his line.
Hleb remained completely calm.
He lifted the ball delicately over the goalkeeper.
Goal.
1-0!
Hleb immediately sprinted towards the touchline, gesturing towards the stands and urging the supporters to make even more noise.
His teammates quickly caught up and surrounded him in celebration.
Old Trafford erupted.
The supporters responded with the loudest applause of the night before breaking into Hleb's song.
The Belarusian had been one of New Manchester United's best performers that season.
His improvement over the previous few years had been obvious.
On the touchline, Mourinho dropped into a crouch and punched the air.
He was increasingly convinced that the match was developing exactly as he had planned.
What pleased him even more was the anxiety beginning to appear among Lazio's players after falling behind.
When Redondo came to the touchline for a drink, Mourinho immediately called him over.
"Keep playing exactly like that.
"But be ready for their response."
Redondo nodded.
He returned to the pitch and immediately passed Mourinho's message to the rest of the team.
Taking the lead against Lazio was something Mourinho had considered carefully before the match.
He had repeatedly warned the players about what would happen afterwards.
The ten minutes immediately following a goal were often the most dangerous period.
Lazio would respond aggressively.
And they did.
After going behind, the Italians immediately launched a fierce attacking spell.
New Manchester United, however, remained disciplined.
Their shape expanded and contracted together.
Through constant running, pressing, and interceptions, they repeatedly disrupted Lazio's attacks and survived the pressure.
Gradually, Lazio's momentum faded.
The match returned to a stalemate.
Then New Manchester United struck again.
This time, it was Drogba.
During a counter-attack, he took advantage of a momentary lapse in concentration from Stam.
Drogba controlled the ball, combined with Cristiano Ronaldo in a quick one-two, and burst into the penalty area.
He finished.
2-0!
It looked like the goal that had condemned Lazio to defeat.
But nobody realised that this was only the beginning of the disaster.
(To be continued.)