Even Jose Mourinho would have to admit that this Manchester United team are a bit special.
It was not easy for them last night. Not when Zlatan Ibrahimovic finally performed like a half-decent striker and made the best defence in Europe look surprisingly fragile during a difficult first 45 minutes.
Knees-up: Ronaldo celebrates with Rooney
Man Utd 2 Inter 0 (agg 2-0): The action as it happened at Old Trafford
Now bring on Manchester United, Liverpool striker Torres taunts title rivals after Real rout
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But they endured that particular physical battering, prevented the runaway leaders of the Italian league from scoring and maintained this insanely ambitious pursuit of five trophies, what one chap on the BBC described last weekend as 'the quintuplet'.
Sir Alex Ferguson is not interested in multiple births but he does continue to crave multiple victories and a second in 14 meetings against Mourinho is one he will savour, as well as a 30th clean sheet in the 48 competitive games United have played this season.
His side were more than worthy of their place in what promises to be a fascinating quarter-final draw, as much for their display in the San Siro as the victory that came here last night courtesy of Nemanja Vidic's fourth-minute header and a goal as memorable for the quality of Wayne Rooney's delivery as the timing of Cristiano Ronaldo's run.
It was brilliant in its execution and brutal in its timing, arriving four minutes after an interval that Mourinho had used to make what he no doubt hoped would be a decisive change. A pedestrian Patrick Vieira had been hooked, with Sulley Muntari deployed as a more energetic replacement.
As Mourinho quickly discovered, though, a manager is only as good as his players and the sight of him then sending on Adriano and Luis Figo as his plans unravelled smacked of desperation.
United responded to the first stage of his reshuffle in emphatic fashion, Rooney delaying his delivery long enough to fool the Inter defence before planting it on the head of the rapidly advancing Ronaldo. Julio Cesar, so good in the first leg, could do nothing to stop the world's best player this time.
High-flyer: Cristiano Ronaldo heads the ball past Julio Cesar
Nor, for that matter, could Mourinho. He complained about the colour of the ball. Complained of what he considered leniency on the part of UEFA in allowing Vidic to participate in this game in the first place. But his complaints fell on deaf ears and Inter, just like last year, fell at the first hurdle of the knock-out stages.
If Rafa Benitez had delivered the best possible job application to the Real Madrid hierarchy at Anfield the previous night, Mourinho's hopes of one day succeeding Ferguson here were not exactly enhanced by this contest.
One wonders what will actually happen to him now, given that domination of the domestic league was not enough to save his predecessor from the sack. 'Byebye Mourinho,' cried a jubilant Old Trafford. Bye-bye indeed.
For Ferguson, it would appear to be anything but farewell. Certain things will concern him after this, not least his side's failure to control the midfield and so allow the Italians to put Rio Ferdinand and Vidic under intense pressure in that opening half.
There might be a little nudge in the direction of Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick to take more care with their passing. But the pluses most certainly outweighed the minuses, leaving the English, European and world champions to continue on their remarkable journey with confidence.
The opening goal was a perfect demonstration of set-piece football - an excellent corner from Giggs and a sudden change in direction from Vidic that left Vieira chasing shadows and Inter the lead. Again, Julio Cesar was powerless to prevent the goal.
Up and away: Vidic slips away from Vieira to head in the opening goal
It actually changed little for Inter. A single goal would still see them through and with Ibrahimovic quickly growing in stature, Ferguson must have been growing anxious. When Maicon delivered a teasing free-kick from the right in the 30th minute, the Sweden striker really should have scored. United's goal was very much at his mercy but he contrived to send his header into the turf before seeing the ball skim the bar.
It was absorbing stuff, a jinking run from Giggs that took him past two or three players a reminder of a time when the Welshman was the finest left winger in the world.
A reminder of the threat Inter continued to pose then followed, however, in the form of a fine effort from Dejan Stankovic that, had it been on target, would have troubled Edwin van der Sar when the Dutchman was so far off his line.
The boss: Jose Mourinho embraces Alex Ferguson after the final whistle
But the miss of the opening half belonged to John O'Shea. It was a wonderful first-time pass from Rooney that suddenly left the Irishman with only Inter's goalkeeper to beat but rather than lift the ball over him he shot straight into the arms of a grateful Julio Cesar.
Now looking more dangerous, Ibrahimovic almost punished O'Shea immediately with a shot across Van der Sar that drifted inches wide. But United survived until the interval and then struck again three minutes after the break.
When Mourinho responded to that by deploying Adriano it almost paid off, the thick-set Brazilian sending a volley against Van der Sar's right-hand post.
But Inter had no answer - it certainly wasn't Figo - and in the end there was no opportunity for Mourinho to slide along the touchline on his knees. No option but to turn to Ferguson at the sound of the final whistle and offer him a congratulatory hug. 'What a friend,' you might say. What a team, Mourinho will now have to concede.
Man Utd 2 Inter 0 (agg 2-0): The action as it happened at Old Trafford
Now bring on Manchester United, Liverpool striker Torres taunts title rivals after Real rout
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