There is a growing belief at Manchester United that the blow of an early Champions League exit has provided the impetus for a sustained assault on the Premier League title.
Even manager Sir Alex Ferguson has struggled to find a convincing explanation for the current run of eight wins in nine league games relates to the way the team bowed out of Europe's elite competition at the group stage.
While few are convinced by Ferguson's continued assertion that his midfield is strong enough to cope with every demand, given their current form maybe there is something in his equally vehement claim the team have quality in abundance.
And, according to Antonio Valencia and Patrice Evra, there is also a renewed sense of purpose.
"We reached the [Champions League] final last year and it hurts to go out so early. But we are using that hurt," Valencia said. "The group now tries even harder, and we are going into games with a determined attitude because we've got to win something, whether it is the Premier League, Europa League or FA Cup.
"We have to make sure we are involved in those trophies, and we have a renewed focus."
Evra, who has taken on the responsibility of captaincy after Nemanja Vidic's injury, shares the sentiment. "Going out of the Champions League was a wake-up call," Evra said. "Everyone began to look in the mirror and say: we could do much better.
"The fans expect what we are doing now. If we stop working hard and think we will only win things with the Manchester United name, everything will be wrong. We have to keep our momentum going and trust each other."
That is the basis upon which Ferguson's managerial ethos rests. The United coach looks at his squad and backs them to deliver. And, so many times, they do.
The latest example of a player coming good is Dimitar Berbatov. United's £30.75 million (Dh177m) record signing did not even make the bench for the Champions League final, and had started just one Premier League game in this campaign prior to Monday's 5-0 win over Wigan Athletic.
Yet he was the one who walked off with the match ball after his hat-trick. "This is the life at Manchester United. We have to keep the competition for every place. Everyone has to fight," Evra said.
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Watford 2 (Sarr 50', Deeney 54' pen)
Manchester United 0
Results:
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 2,000m - Winner: Powderhouse, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap Dh165,000 2,200m - Winner: Heraldic, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Conditions Dh240,000 1,600m - Winner: Walking Thunder, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash
8.15pm: Handicap Dh190,000 2,000m - Winner: Key Bid, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
8.50pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 1,200m - Winner: Drafted, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
9.25pm: Handicap Dh170,000 1,600m - Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap Dh190,000 1,400m - Winner: Rodaini, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
