Writing off Manchester United has always been a dangerous occupation and last night, even with no David Beckham, we were reminded of the reasons why.
It would be stretching the point to say the crisis is over, but it is too soon yet to suggest that Alex Ferguson's only role at the European Cup final will be that of a jealous onlooker.
By casually dismissing Boavista courtesy of two clinical strikes from Ruud van Nistelrooy, sandwiching Laurent Blanc's first goal in the competition, the faltering English champions rounded off a hugely satisfactory evening by moving top of Group A.
But perhaps just as importantly this was a statement of their intent. It may seem like a trick of the mind now but the beleaguered manager will not need reminding it is 12 years ago this week that United lost here to Crystal Palace and a banner was unfurled at the Stretford End demanding his removal from office.
He came through that and in his programme notes last night he insisted that United could defy their critics again.
"Manchester United are not unbreakable. We have no divine right to expect football miracles indefinitely," he said.
That may be so but their renowned powers of recovery did not conceal the fact this was a tense, agitated Old Trafford.
Not only were the fans digesting the unpalatable news that Wes Brown might be sidelined for the season but there was also the incongruity of Beckham, English football's iconic son, not being deemed worthy of a starting place.
The announcement of the teams brought a stunned silence, followed by the sound of 60,000 jaws hitting the ground.
The manner in which Boavista quickly acclimatised hardly lifted the lingering sense of foreboding. Fabien Barthez was needed to deny Duda and Armando Petit inside the opening five minutes.
Ferguson recalled Gary Neville and Mickael Silvestre in defence, Neville playing in the centre beside Blanc; Juan Sebastian Veron took Beckham's place on the right and Dwight Yorke gave Ruud van Nistelrooy much needed support in attack.
Another new system was bound to take time to get used to, but gradually United began to establish themselves and just after the half-hour their territorial advantage paid off.
Phil Neville dispossessed Erwin Sanchez in the Boavista half and after a neat one-two with Veron his low centre from the right demanded conversion by Van Nistelrooy. Though he may have been offside, the Dutchman duly slipped in his 10th goal of the season.
The goal clearly soothed nerves and, when Blanc doubled the lead 10 minutes after the interval, Old Trafford could breathe a sigh of relief. Again Phil Neville's persistence paid dividends.
This time the full back forced a corner on the right and, when Veron arced the ball into a crowded penalty area, Blanc's emphatic header combined power and precision.
There was more to come. Seven minutes later Yorke put Van Nistelrooy through and the Dutchman picked his spot to confirm the first steps of United's recovery.
MANCHESTER UTD: Barthez, Phil Neville, Blanc, Gary Neville (O'Shea 77), Silvestre, Butt, Scholes (Fortune 86), Keane, Veron, Yorke, van Nistelrooy (Solskjaer 88). Subs Not Used: Carroll, Beckham, Chadwick, Wallwork. Booked: Keane, Scholes. Goals: van Nistelrooy 31, Blanc 55, van Nistelrooy 62.
BOAVISTA: Ricardo, Frechaut, Pedro Emanuel, Turra, Erivan, Sanchez (Pedro Santos 69), Petit, Alexandre, Jorge Silva (Martelinho 60), Duda, Silva (Marcio Santos 58). Subs Not Used: William, Rui Oscar, Loja, Glauber. Booked: Pedro Emanuel.
Referee: Antonio Jesus Lopez Nieto (Malaga).
