"There is no better atmosphere than Old Trafford on a European night. The fans love it, the players enjoy playing in those games and the noise always seems far greater than in an afternoon.
"I don't know whether it has anything to do with people feeling less inhibited to shout and sing because it is darker, or whether being night time it just seems louder. I suppose the floodlights add a little bit to the game because the pitch and the players stand out against the darker background of the crowd, but it is certainly special."
Would United switch to regular evening games? Not according to chairman Martin Edwards, even though he, too, confesses to being an Old Trafford night owl.
"I have seen some incredibly exciting floodlit home games when the atmosphere has been fantastic. The 3-0 win over Barcelona in 1984, and more recently the Champions League games against Juventus and Inter Milan in 1999 spring to mind, but playing our home Premiership games at night is just not feasible."
No doubt this would get in the way of his ‘other’ activities