Join together in emotional show of support

this morning to the leaders of the City of Manchester itself and to the Emergency Services who are doing so much to support our city in these most challenging of circumstances.”

At United, there was a similar statement: “Everyone at Manchester United is deeply shocked by last night’s terrible events at the Manchester Arena.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected, including our supporters, club staff and members of our community, such as the children from our Manchester United Foundation partner schools who were attending the concert at the Arena.”

At Old Trafford, the Megastore was closed. No one was much interested in talking about United’s Europa League final against Ajax tonight.

“To know that people were plotting to kill women and children on your doorstep is quite chilling,” said Harry Macey, from Chorlton, where a 23-year-old man had been arrested a few hours earlier, in relation to the terrorist attack. “But they will not defeat us. Manchester has been bombed before.

“There is a determination to carry on as usual, to show the terrorists will not stop us living our normal lives, but it’s a football match at the end of the day.”

In the city centre, as close to the Manchester Arena as a police cordon would allow, there were the usual tributes to greet a disaster: flowers, stuffed toys, and heartfelt notes. And here was a glorious sight: together, football shirts from both clubs. The sky blue of City and the crimson red of United.

Players from both clubs took to social media to sympathise. The former England captain and United midfielder David Beckham, summed it up: “Heartbreaking news from Manchester. As a father and a human, what has happened truly saddens me. My thoughts are with all of those that have been affected by this tragedy.”

The old divisions were gone, at least for now, and the city was as one.