COMMENT: Hang on, hang on. This wasn't in the script. It's Real Madrid. Champions League winners. LaLiga winners. They're the story in Skopje. Well, they're supposed to be...
It was a masterclass from Jose Mourinho on Monday. Today, whether it's in Manchester or Madrid. Everything around tonight's European Super Cup has the Manchester United manager's stamp all over it.
Yeah, the Gareth Bale flyer has dominated reaction. But Mourinho's ability to drive a theme ran much deeper than simply winding up Zinedine Zidane, his old analyst at Real.
Erm, Cristiano Ronaldo... remember him? Tonight could be his first game back. His first public appearance with Real since all the 'will he, won't he' transfer drama from earlier this summer. Yet, not a peep about the Ballon d'Or in today's press.
And what about David de Gea? Again, not a word. No Madrid journalist bothered trying a little dig about Real's obsession with the United goalkeeper. Mourinho put paid to that. Bale is the story. As is Zidane. Whether he goes with the Welshman or not at the Philip II Arena, the Real coach's selection will have the inference of Mourinho pulling the strings.
"If he is not in the plans and it is true what you write, that for the entrance of another player Gareth will be pushed to the exit door... If he is at the exit door I will try to wait for him and to fight with anyother coach that awaits him," declared Mourinho.
"But if he plays tomorrow it is clear that he will continue."
Over to you Zizou. Mourinho knows what he's doing. He knows Bale's form in preseason doesn't warrant a start tonight. There's even some doubt over an Achilles strain he collected in training last week.
But this isn't supposed to happen. Not to Real Madrid. They're the ones who talk about opposition players. Who do their transfer business through the press. But that wasn't the case yesterday. Mourinho had them playing defence. Scrambling. Zidane was forced to answer multiple questions about Bale. As was Sergio Ramos.
The Real captain was clearly irked by the line of enquiry. Where were the questions about De Gea? About winning the Double? No. Mourinho had chummed the water. The media wanted to know about Bale. Mourinho had set it all up earlier in the day.
It's ridiculous, of course. Real, on paper, should win tonight in a canter. The European champions. Double winners. Against the sixth best team in England.
"The difference between the winner of the Champions League and the Europa League is obvious," conceded even Mourinho yesterday. "The highest quality is in the Champions League. But we'll try to win, of course."
But the United manager has captured the media momentum in Skopje. Despite the contrasting team sheets, there's a genuine belief United can upset Real. A rattled Real. The biggest and the best, that finds itself fighting to wrest back control of this game's storyline.
Mourinho even had a word to charm the locals yesterday, urging - with a wry smile - Ivan Juric, the Genoa coach, to release Goran Pandev so he can make the game. Mourinho happy to talk up his former Inter Milan striker to an enthusiastic audience.
"I do not want to be in a position where the coach of Genoa can say that it is not my business. Goran is the best player in the whole history of Macedonia, it is a special moment for this country and I believe that with a private flight we can work miracles!
"But it is his (Juric's) responsibility and I will not criticise."
Dear oh dear. What chance Zidane and Ramos against that? You almost feel sorry for them...
This is Mourinho back in the big time. United versus Real. In Europe. For a title. This is his stage - and he stole the spotlight from the headline act.
For at least 24 hours, Mourinho - again - was the biggest thing in football. Whether there's more to it than just the manager's bluster, United's players will tell us more later tonight.
