When a manager holds his pre-match press conference 18 hours after his last one finished, three days before his team is due to play again, it is sometimes difficult to know whether to look back on what has gone, or forward to what is to come.

I went for the former.

Erik ten Hag has a key game looming against Tottenham on Sunday. After disappointing draws against Crystal Palace – when Manchester United dominated but could not score – and last night against FC Twente – when they dominated but didn’t score enough – it was pertinent to ask what the problem was.

I have been told Ten Hag prefers blunt questions because he finds them easier to deal with.

He also likes blunt answers.

“Not scoring goals enough, that is the problem,” he said.

“It’s the key area. We have to score more goals as a team.”