If Manchester United fans want a reminder of how bright their future might be, then they only need to look back to last week. Erik ten Hag's side set up a group-decider against Real Sociedad tonight thanks to a convincing home win against FC Sheriff seven days ago.
United's win was hardly headline-grabbing, but the performance of teenager Alejandro Garnacho certainly was. He is a name well known to his own supporters, soon he will be a name known all across the continent as well.
Garnacho, 18, had to wait for his chance under Ten Hag and made up for lost time in the manner he took it. He was the standout performer on his full competitive debut, putting in a fearless performance that caught the eye of the Old Trafford crowd.
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The Argentine youngster will be hoping for another chance soon, and he could get it on Thursday night. United travel to San Sebastian knowing a win by two goals is needed to top Group E and avoid a pesky two-legged play-off round next year, but head into the match without a trio of senior forwards.
Anthony Martial is still not ready to be involved in the match, and he is joined on the sidelines by wingers Jadon Sancho and Antony - a £216million trio of talent.
Ten Hag will need to take a risk in order to solve his dilemma, and it could mean another chance for Garnacho, given just how thin on attacking depth they are for the game.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford are both expected to start, but it is unclear who will occupy the other attacking role. Anthony Elanga started on the right against West Ham last weekend but struggled to make much of an impact, while Shola Shoretire and Facundo Pellistri are the only other options in the traveling squad.
It's possible that Garnacho will get another chance, but the more likely solution would be to repurpose Bruno Fernandes or Christian Eriksen into a wide role and replace them centrally with either Fred or Scott McTominay.
With so much at stake and Ten Hag desperate to win the group, it means he will go as strong as possible with his line up, something that could work against Garnacho in the short-term.
There is no doubting the huge potential of the teenager, but at the moment it is just that - potential. He still only has six senior appearances to his name and has a lot of work to do if he is to make it in the senior spotlight.
His rapid rise was warranted on the back of his call-up to the Argentina side and his starring role in the Youth Cup triumph, but the hardest part is to marry the talent with the right attitude and mentality to succeed.
"The start was difficult for him in the season. I was not happy with him, but in the last weeks I was happy with him, a better attitude, more resilience, more determination," Ten Hag said last week. "I hope for him it's a stimulant and he knows I have to do better to get into the team, to create more and don't forget you are playing in a team.
"Young kids have to grow and to raise their personality. They have to know what the laws and demands are in football, top football, it's not only about the trick or about scoring one goal. We have to win football games, that demands a lot and then you have to fulfil every day the high standards, that is what we have to teach, not only him but we have to teach all the players, but especially the young players."
It was telling that the former Atletico prodigy only made one appearance during pre-season, featuring for fewer minutes than Tahith Chong, and that he had to wait until a low pressure game against Sheriff for his first competitive start.
United’s injury crisis has given Garnacho another chance of featuring this evening when he returns to the country of his birth, though that does not mean he will.
Talent is one thing but he must now show the maturity and work ethic to match. We’re about to find out where Ten Hag really ranks him in the United squad and whether or not Garancho has listened to his manager's advice.
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