INEOS will insist the players signed under their project suit the club’s game model rather than a single manager. So they should have no issue cutting ties with Ten Hag and letting a new coach try to get a tune out of them. Ten Hag isn’t all talk when he stresses that United are showing signs of improvement, though.

Erik ten Hag went into the last week knowing that he probably had two games to save his job as Manchester United manager. He has won neither. But he has, also, lost neither with the fortunate 3-3 draw away to Porto in the Europa League on Thursday followed by this more encouraging goalless stalemate,