Of course, United could – unlike City with Mancini – believe Van Gaal remains the right man, despite the supporter anguish, the player misgivings, the sterile, anaemic football and the poor results, to guide the club, in which case they must stand by him. A full risk assessment would be required first, though. How would the squad react and is there a danger of some players, like David De Gea, wanting, in turn, to leave?

How would the fans respond? Would potential recruits be deterred from signing for a man likely to be entering the final 12 months of his contract and with a reputation for being not much fun to work or play for, even if he ended up agreeing a ceremonial extension to his deal like Pellegrini did at City last summer? And what if United start another season badly having just allowed Van Gaal to splash another pile of cash in the transfer market? Do they suck it up and live with the consequences or do they change then?