Casemiro and Erik ten Hag are becoming Manchester United's unlikely partnership

At dusk, the Reale Arena glows as blue as the moonlight that looms above it. Sixty-five years ago, on a British European Airways flight to neighbouring Bilbao were seven of the Busby Babes who were killed in the Munich snow 13 months later.

The Basque Country was Manchester United's first voyage to Spain, a chaotic 5-3 defeat in the European Cup quarter-final first leg. The club renowned for its comebacks secured one back in Manchester - at Maine Road, not Old Trafford. United prevailed 3-0.

Should United record a first win on Basque territory, it would hardly rank among their evocative recoveries on the continent. Their passage to the knockout stage is already assured and it is only the Europa League.

For the thousands of United fans littered around San Sebastian, finishing second in Group E appeals amid the possibility of a glamour tie in an unglamorous competition. Barcelona, Ajax, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen, Sevilla, Juventus, Red Bull Salzburg or Shakhtar Donetsk await in Monday's knockout draw for the eight runners-up.

For Erik ten Hag, avoiding a February jaunt and two free midweeks that month appeals, particularly with two postponed Premier League fixtures yet to be rescheduled. "Clear," Ten Hag began, with his favoured adjective.

"Obviously, it's important we can win that tomorrow night. We know what we have to do, two-goals difference. But if you want to win a trophy you have to win all the games and we have to beat everyone.

"It's clear you face a heavy opponent (if you finish second) but we like those challenges. If you want to win the trophy you have to win them all."

United have to win by two goals, something they have managed only three times in Spain and two were last year - against Granada in the Europa League and Villarreal in the Champions League group stage. More romantic for United followers are the 3-3s in Madrid and Barcelona 30 years apart.

Casemiro was an obvious choice to flank Ten Hag in the plush press conference room on Wednesday evening. David de Gea has refused to speak about his omission from the Spain squad (an inevitable topic had he been present) and Cristiano Ronaldo has not engaged in any media activities since January.

The Brazilian encountered Sociedad 14 times with the Real of Madrid, won 10 and lost only two. Ronaldo might have welcomed the invitation to parade his own personal pillaging against Los Txuri-Urdin: nine games and 15 goals.

In this era where United deny new recruits the privilege of a press conference, an audience of Casemiro is a fleeting opportunity to witness the regard players and staff have for him. Speaking solely in Spanish, his deep tone commands one's attention.

At Carrington, immediate respect for Casemiro was a given the moment he was waved through the barriers. He has imposed his leadership quietly but his voice bellowed in celebration at Chelsea last month.

Since Casemiro's overdue recall in Cyprus five weeks ago, United have embarked on an eight-match unbeaten stretch and he has started in all of them.

In a summer United pursued Frenkie de Jong down the garden path only to be cornered by the daunting Madame Rabiot, Casemiro was the midfielder they were yearning for most.

United made tentative contact shortly with Casemiro's camp after the Champions League final in May, tipped that his last tango in Paris was also a last hurrah with Madrid. Just under three months later, Casemiro pressed the flesh of an admiring Roy Keane.

Clad in a camouflaged club tracksuit and listening intently to the translation in his earpiece, Casemiro resembled a general receiving the battle plan. In Ten Hag, Casemiro sees a mirror image.

"I believe that knowing or, after being in football for quite a while, despite the fact I am only 30, the obsession for winning, his obsession for winning is what surprised me the most," Casemiro confessed.

"He's got many strengths, we all know it's a process and we are growing together, but his obsession for teaching us and leaving everything perfect to the millimetre, his obsession for winning is something I have seen from only a few managers.

"I think we can see we are working hard, we are growing. Maybe I can bring a few things on the pitch but it's impossible to change the dynamic for one player.

"The key is the team, the manager, everybody, the most important thing is we are growing, we are becoming a very solid team."

"He told me when we had the first talk he needs a new challenge," Ten Hag said, "because with Real Madrid he won everything. He was a big part of Real Madrid. Still, they don't want him to go but he had the feeling I have to go to another club, to another league to prove myself and that shows his hunger, I really like that."

As Ten Hag outlined Casemiro's ambition, the Brazilian nodded approvingly, two men driven from dusk to dawn.