‘Forgive Fabien Barthez if he does not seem to burst at the seams with the joy of playing for English football's most famous club.
France's best goalkeeper has never qualified as Old Trafford's most demonstrative devotee and he is not given to 150-yard sprints to join in goal celebrations. But he is now the only man guaranteed a start among the five players Sir Alex Ferguson selects in his ever-changing defence.
This week it was farewell to Gary Neville, who started on the substitutes' bench. Laurent Blanc, whose head-kissing routine fooled everyone into thinking he and Barthez were a wacky pair, was only afforded a place in the stand.
No more conversations in French at corners for these two: Blanc has returned from injury to find himself, arguably, United's fifth choice centre-half.
Waiting for Barthez to talk about his feelings could take longer than waiting for the seven-year contract he signed in May 2000 to expire. He does not feel the need to explain his performances, good or bad, but there was an instructive tale about him in the match-day programme.
The club's laundry woman said that not only did she do Barthez's washing for him when he moved to Manchester, but she also helped him move house. Even silent, moody World Cup-winners need a helping hand sometimes.’