Cristiano Ronaldo separated himself from Manchester United teammates as much as the fans did at Brighton

The Manchester United supporters in the away end must have glanced enviously at Brighton. They have a progressive coach, recruit impressively, play enthralling football, the stadium facilities are excellent and the atmosphere impressive for a new build.

Journalism students from the nearby university are granted invaluable access on matchdays and the Amex Stadium is a colour writer's dream. The press boxes are positioned behind the dugouts and, in order to access the press conference room, you have to pass through the tunnel.

Debris from the turf had not been swept away as we strolled through post-match, passing a topless Victor Lindelof speaking Svenska with the Brighton coach Bjorn Hamberg.

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The mixed zone is positioned towards the end of the tunnel and long after the final shrill Juan Mata was deep in conversation with Bruno, the former Brighton defender now on the club's coaching staff.

David de Gea emerged from the dressing room and paused to debrief. You did not have to be fluent in Spanish or earwig intently to discern the dismay De Gea expressed, his body language a giveaway.

When Pascal Gross passed De Gea, he gave him a farewell pat. "Roy Keane would love that," quipped a reporter, referring to Gross scoring past De Gea.

Harry Maguire and the reserved Aaron Wan-Bissaka were the first United players to leave the stadium. Anthony Elanga was hunched over a desk. Danny Welbeck held court with Jesse Lingard, Mike Phelan and a United staff member.

Naturally, none of the United players stopped to speak. Bruno Fernandes was obliged to mumble some words to the rights holders.

Old Trafford barely had a mixed zone in pre-Covid times and it did not