Ruben Amorim used the previous Premier League game at Old Trafford to deliver the most difficult post-season address at Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson reflected on ‘the most traumatic seven days in the history of the modern club’ in 1992.

Then, Ferguson was looking back on a shocking week, when his side lost three successive games to effectively hand what seemed certain to be a first league title in 25 years to Leeds with a game to spare.

Ferguson had a sizeable straw to clutch at given his side had won silverware in three successive campaigns. As it turned out, the long wait to be champions was extended by just 12 months.

There was no safe island that offered Amorim similar refuge on 25 May.

“I want to apologise for this season,” he said. “Now, we have to make a choice or we stay stuck in the past. We either fight each other or we stick together and move forward.

“Today after this disaster season I want to tell you: ‘The good days are coming’.”

Amorim has said he will be more cautious with his public statements over the coming months than he has been so far as United’s head coach.

It will be a shame if he sticks to this pledge because he speaks with refreshing openness and honesty, which is fabulous for journalists, and also engenders a hope for success from those who appreciate his direct approach.

However, the problem applying spin about a brighter future when addressing a dreadful present is that the future eventually becomes the present, which is where Amorim is now.