One of the most disappointing aspects of the Wayne Rooney contract saga – possibly the most – was that it came from a player we believed to love the club as much as any, as much as Cantona fell in love with the club too. It immediately forced supporters to think they couldn’t trust anyone in the team. If Rooney of all people could remove himself from emotional attachment to the club because of what he perceived to be lack of trophy prospects in the short term, then what of other players?

This time last week I blogged a storm was about to hit Old Trafford, and it did, with an unexpected conclusion.

Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes may be one (well, three) offs but the reaction from Old Trafford this week should have put minds at rest. Patrice Evra, Darren Fletcher and club captain Nemanja Vidic all spoke to the media, and while the headlines may have identified Rooney as the target of supposed annoyance, there was an encouraging sign of team spirit.