Within an hour of becoming a Premier League champion for the 13th time, Sir Alex Ferguson was deep in conversation with one of his greatest-ever players about winning title No 14 and chasing European glory.
As far as Captain Marvel, Bryan Robson, could tell, Ferguson had moved on from this season's triumph, even before Manchester United fans had stopped singing in celebration outside Old Trafford.
Confidant: Bryan Robson with Sir Alex Ferguson on the training ground
'He wasn't talking about how well they had played to win the title,' said Robson, who was allowed into Fergie's inner sanctum deep below the South Stand following Monday night's win against Aston Villa.
'He was talking about next season and how to improve. The planning has already started. It doesn't matter what he achieves, it's about what he's going to do next year.'
With Manchester City seen off in spectacular style, Ferguson is free to spend the remainder of the campaign chasing transfer targets and history.
An A-list striker along the lines of Borussia Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski or Atletico Madrid's Radamael Falcao would boost their Champions League prospects. If Gareth Bale decided to leave Spurs, expect Ferguson to try to find the money, as he did for Robin van Persie a year ago.
'I can find room for anybody,' said Ferguson last night, a chilling sentence for City and Chelsea, who have found themselves clutching United's coat-tails this season, despite a supposed financial superiority.
On the history front, four more wins - starting at Arsenal today - would see United surpass the record 95 points set by Jose Mourinho's Chelsea and, therefore, statistically become the greatest Premier League champions of them all.
Top target: Fergie would like to sign a star name like Gareth Bale
Ferguson says this season's triumph has been built around a fab four of goalkeeper David de Gea, defender Rafael, midfield general Michael Carrick and the Premier League's top scorer, Van Persie, who will be the centre of attention on his return to The Emirates today.
'They are the four I'd say have been our best players this season - I wouldn't like to choose between them,' said Ferguson.
'You've got two developing players in Rafa and De Gea, who have been outstanding this season. Then you've got Carrick and Van Persie. They have elevated themselves this season, definitely.'
It is Van Persie's character, in addition to his unquestioned ability, that has helped him thrive at United, according to Ferguson. At Old Trafford, the pressure to win is greater than nearly anywhere else and, therefore, the camaraderie among players has to be paramount.
'There is a clip of Arsenal in the Champions League when the boy [Kieran] Gibbs slipped and cost them a goal,' says the United manager. 'The only Arsenal player who went up to Gibbs was Van Persie, he put his arm round his shoulder - and I think he's the same with us.
'He has that influence on the young players here. He lives the right way, he trains the right way. He lives his life in the right way. It took him three or four months to get his personality into the training sessions, but it's there now.'
Van Persie's arrival has led to some big calls from Ferguson this season. Wayne Rooney has been sacrificed for games like the Champions League showdown against Real Madrid or moved back into midfield. Like David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy before him, England's best player has found reputation is no barrier to getting chopped.
Impressive: Defender Rafael da Silva
That does not surprise Robson. United's first title-winning captain under Ferguson enjoyed a legendary status at Old Trafford and held the team together for a decade. But even he was not shown any sentiment in the manager's relentless urge to look forward.
'I'd won the title in '93 and '94 and we'd reached the FA Cup final in 1994 against Chelsea. I'd already agreed to go to Middlesbrough as player-manager the following season, so I thought, "What a way to leave United by winning the Double",' said Robson. 'I'd played in loads of cup-ties that season and scored in the semi-final against Oldham. We get to the final at Wembley and I'm not even a sub.
'I was gutted but that is what the man is about. He makes real tough decisions and, going into management myself later, I know that those are tough decisions.
'When you get to a cup final you want to look after everybody, but you can't. He said to me when he made that decision, "I've got Nicky Butt coming through. I think a lot of him. I'm going with him on the bench, not you".
'I told him, "I've scored a goal in the semi-final. We won 4-0, we're in the final and we've won the league, where's the justice in that?". He just said, "That's my decision", so you've got to accept it. That is what makes him a winner because he makes hard decisions like that.
'OK, it doesn't make him favourable with everybody, but that's what makes him successful. He has this aura about being a winner.'
He also has the appetite for it. He observes every training session, so when he goes to the board and recommends a player should be offered a new contract, he does so from a position of knowledge.
Under Ferguson, United have long since knocked Liverpool 'off their perch' and replaced them as the most successful club in terms of domestic trophies.
Europe is the next challenge, the next horizon. No manager in history has won more than three European Cups, but Ferguson still feels his tally of two is below par.
Watching Dortmund destroy Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final last week has whetted the appetite.
'I think it should have been us playing there, but for the referee [who sent off Nani against Real Madrid in the last-16 tie], it would have been. Absolutely, we have to do better in Europe.'
While others put United's 20th title into some kind of historical context, Ferguson is pressing ahead to new challenges - starting at The Emirates today.
'I know for a fact if United lose the next four games because they're already champions, the manager will go ape,' said Robson with a smile.