The Champions League anthem was already rolling around Old Trafford when the two lines stepped out of the tunnel.
It sounded heavier than it had on Wednesday against Chelsea, heavier than anything against Bournemouth. The floodlights bounced off the damp pitch so brightly that the grass looked almost wet-painted, and the Champions League boards glowed blue and white along every touchline. In the far corner, Bayern's travelling supporters were singing something in German, loud enough to carry, and the rest of the stadium answered them by simply getting louder.
Demien breathed out and saw his breath hang in the air.
Then the teams split for the handshakes, and he forgot the cold completely.
