Harry Maguire, a virtual ever-present for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since joining from Leicester City in the summer of 2019, had suffered an ankle ligament injury at Aston Villa earlier that month.
It was an issue that curtailed the defender’s domestic season and would ultimately end his hopes of leading the Reds out in a major European final.
Maguire was named as a substitute by Solskjaer for the match against Villarreal but, clearly unfit, remained on the bench as the Yellow Submarine frustrated United for 120 minutes before edging a seemingly endless penalty shootout.
Harry’s bitter disappointment was clear for all to see and, although he recovered to play a leading role in England’s run to the Euro 2020 final, further agony was to follow at Wembley.