“We play against Arsenal, we play really well [with] the formation. We play against Liverpool, we go to a Europa League final in a disaster season with the same system.

“The system is not important. We can play with three defenders, four defenders, five defenders – that doesn’t matter. What matters is that we need to be different, and that is the job of the coach, and you can see that nothing change.

“Something has to change – and you’re not going to change 22 players again.

“The penalty shootout is not important. It doesn’t matter. The beginning of the game, during the game – that’s the matter. If we win this game, [it would be] so unfair for the opponent it’s so unfair. So today, the football was really fair.”

Whichever way you dice it, whatever angle you choose to look at what Amorim is doing at United, however much blame you put on the dysfunctional environment around him, it’s hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel. They’re going backwards, still, and the responsibility for that falls on his shoulders.

After losing the Europa League final in May, Amorim said he would resign “without any conversation about compensation” if the board and the fans believe he is not the right person to take them forward, but asked for faith in him and his methods. We know now what the fans think; just take one look at social media. What does the board think? We’ll find out in the next few days, if Amorim doesn’t take the decision out of their hands and walk away first, having all but begged to be sacked.

So, assuming that’s the end of Amorim, what happens? Who’s the next poor bastard to sip from the poisoned chalice? The market for top-class managers is a bit thin at the moment. There is, however, an Aussie bloke who’s looking for a new job, who specialises in the impossible. Worth a conversation, at least.

United was only playing in the second round – for the first time since 2014 – after failing to qualify for European competition last season. That year, the team lost 4-0 at third-tier MK Dons in the second round.

There were no such problems for the other Premier League sides in action with Brighton and Hove Albion winning 6-0 at Oxford United, Everton beating Mansfield Town 2-0 and Fulham overcoming second-tier Bristol City 2-0.

with AP

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