Roy Hodgson's perspective of the Europa League has changed.
The Fulham manager now considers progressing from the group stage of scant significance compared to the business of securing Premier League respectability.
Thus Wednesday's tie against Basle in Switzerland is relegated in the list of priorities for Hodgson who justifiably believes that the visit of the champions to Craven Cottage next Saturday is his prime concern.
"When Manchester United come to town and you are Fulham, that's a big game for us," Hodgson insists.
Hodgson's European outlook has been soured by Fulham's experiences against Roma this season, when he believes his side suffered from poor refereeing decisions.
"The importance of the Europa League has changed in my mind. I have made it perfectly clear that what happened against Roma home and away in a competition, it takes the shine off. And, to be frank, we didn't enter this competition to win it anyway.
"The likes of Roma and Liverpool, those types of teams, maybe entered it to win. We entered for experience and the joy we give our supporters.
"I will not be playing what I consider my best team. That will play against United. I will be playing players who are obliged to play because we have three, Greening, Nevland and Konchesky, suspended thanks largely to the lamentable fate we suffered at the hands of two referees."
Fulham reinforced their Premiership top-half position at Turf Moor, where Bobby Zamora took his seasonal total to seven, although a string of missed opportunities denied them the chance to secure their first victory at Burnley since 1951.
Much of the visitors' failure was down to the excellence of Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen whose form could enhance his prospects for a Denmark World Cup call. "I've been on stand-by so I know that the door is not entirely shut as I thought it once was," Jensen said.
Jensen's first-half saves from Erik Nevland and Damien Duff were outstanding.