Manchester United lost again in the Premier League but this time it felt different

Few countries produce coaches at the rate and quality of Portugal in the modern game, where not only are they taught how to build teams and improve players, but also how to hold a squat.

There were times at Old Trafford when it seemed Ruben Amorim and Vitor Pereira were involved in their own personal battle, one that was often more engrossing than the action on the pitch. This was very much a case of after the Lord Mayor's show for Manchester United.

Amorim and Pereira would both adopt that familiar crouched position, watching the action from down low and holding the pose, showing off impressive strength in their knees and calves. Those physical attributes aren't all the pair of Portuguese coaches have in common, for they also have a liking for the same system.

For much of this game, one 3-4-2-1 simply cancelled out another. It was no surprise that the game was settled by a set-piece. For Amorim, that might be considered a success, given the circumstances. This was United's 15th defeat of the Premier League season, and it leaves them in real danger of finishing 17th, but it was also the most meaningless reverse of a miserable domestic campaign.

This was always going to be a comedown for United after Thursday night's euphoria. The remainder of their Premier League campaign is about avoiding injury and blooding a few youngsters.

Pereira was an interested observer amid the mayhem on Thursday night, sitting in the front row of the directors' box for a night the grand old stadium will never forget. With Amorim making five changes, his opposite number probably didn't learn an awful lot and all he referenced in his pre-match media duties was the state of the traffic around Old Trafford.

It could be considered a bit unfair to