And on Tuesday night, in addition to the 5,000 French supporters being marshalled by a steward declaiming in Salford French "eecee votres billets silver pat", could be found a knot of Mexicans.
Draped in the national flag, announcing their presence in sombreros and ponchos and loud song, they were, they insisted, only there for Chicharito. After the match-winning performance by their hero, of this we can be certain: they will be back. And next time they'll bring the rest of the family. If not the whole country.
In his first season in Manchester, Javier Hernandez, the Mexican with the sort of nickname - Little Pea - that would cause endless tittering in a Mancunian playground, has quickly made his mark.
On the merchandise stalls dotting the route to the ground, his face now occupies as many t-shirts as the old favourites Cantona, Best and Giggs.
The green, white and red Mexican flag ever more frequently flutters in the stands. Clearly his manager, too, believes he has now arrived.
