This disturbing absence of goals have ensured that van Gaal has failed to win on thirteen such occasions. His win ratio during his eighteen-month tenure is the lowest in the club’s history. Even ‘The Chosen One’ fared better, despite the fact that his only notable additions to the squad were Marouane Fellaini and January signing Juan Mata. Meanwhile, van Gaal has been granted licence to spend upwards of a quarter of a billion pounds on marquee signings, most notably Memphis Depay, Anthony Martial and the man of the match in Real Madrid’s coveted La Decima, Angel di Maria. Such staggering investment has bought no goals, no points, no trophies, and no direction.

Supporters demand a return to the days where the Devils played with pace and passion and seemingly without fear, almost trademarks of Sir Alex Ferguson’s twenty-six year career as manager. Yet Sir Alex Ferguson’s success is the most important factor in their current failure.

Note that Ferguson’s latest book is not called Coaching, it is called Leading. The Scot’s approach to preparing his players tactically was not particularly sophisticated. But the way in which he garnered respect from his players and communicated his message to them was – and is still - unrivalled.

Fundamental to Ferguson’s success was that he sold the vision of United as an institution elevated from the rest of English football, with standards of behaviour, commitment and ability far more stringent than that of its rivals. This message resonated with the club’s board during his early, leaner years, and, when United undercut even its current iteration in terms of goals scored in the 1989/90 season, granted a stay of execution seemingly impossible in modern football.

Using the club’s status as a means of establishing and maintaining his authority amongst the players often manifested itself in confrontation with the club’s highest profile players. Ruud van Nilsterooy, one of Manchester United’s greatest ever strikers, was declared an outcast by Ferguson after the Dutchman took exception to the increasing influence of a young Cristiano Ronaldo. David Beckham, inarguably then and now one of sport’s biggest icons, was jettisoned when his hunger for winning trophies diminished in favour of establishing a career after football. Roy Keane left the club in disgrace over outbursts against Ferguson and the club’s youth system, fuelled by resentment of the impending end of his elite career. Many clubs could not have endured the departure of such players, from a commercial perspective at very least. But central to United’s commercial success and international appeal is the idea sewn by Ferguson, and by Sir Matt Busby before him. That no one man was greater than the club. No matter how great the man, the club would always survive his departure.