I heard what Man United players did in dressing room last week - now they'll show their true colours
"We wanted more, but in the end, it was far from good enough and we said in the changing room that it looked like they wanted it more and that can't be right."
Plenty has been said about Manchester United's plight over the past few weeks, with some pundits desperate to light up the eyes of social media teams by spouting the line that will bring online engagement. However, perhaps the harshest recent assessment came from within the United dressing room.
Post-match interviews are often fuelled by adrenaline and emotion but, even taking that into account, Christian Eriksen's analysis of his side's draw with FC Twente was out of the ordinary.
READ MORE: Ten Hag lifts lid on Ratcliffe chats
READ MORE: Ten Hag receives double injury boost for Porto
The United midfielder was no doubt furious at having watched his side throw away a lead he had granted with his sublime right-footed strike, though his part in Twente's equaliser can't be ignored. But to publicly concede the opposition wanted it more than United was a damning indictment of the squad.
But there's a caveat that must be noted.
United aren't unfamiliar with the concept of a caveat, whether it be 'look at all the injuries' or 'but we've won more trophies than any English club except City in the past two seasons'.
The Europa League represents another opportunity to add some silverware to the trophy cabinet this season, but a competition in which you could finish 24th in a 36-team league table and still go on to win is hardly set up to bring out the best in elite players playing under pressure.
No United team should ever be accused of or admit to not wanting to win as much as the team they are facing, but this Europa League format is new to everyone and it will take