Ruben Amorim had his Ralf Rangnick moment in the Manchester United press conference

The only homage the Manchester United players paid to Denis Law was to perform like the relegation fodder he condemned in 1974.

Many regard this as the worst United team since they went down 51 years ago. Ruben Amorim went further: "We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United."

On Sunday, United shattered a 131-year record with their seventh league defeat in their first 12 games, dating back to when Queen Victoria was still on the throne. In 1893-94, United were still known as Newton Heath. Old Trafford would not be built until 1910.

There was gallows humour in the press room that the next record to tumble could date back to the season Christ was born. Or the Jurassic age.

Amorim is taking accountability. He stressed in the first answer at his post-match press conference that "everybody here is underperforming". He then admitted "I’m not helping my players in the moment". That was good copy. Then he offered a great headline.

"I know you want headlines but I am saying that because we have to acknowledge that and to change that," he explained. "Here you go: your headlines." Amorim will be pleased with the newspaper sub-editors. His quotes were splashed on the back pages of The Sun, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Express, The Daily Star, The Daily Mail and The Times and the front of the football supplements in The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian.

He wants to publicise how inept this United squad is. Amorim was never going to have to pay for advertising space in the 'papers when a top-half finish in the Premier League table is improbable, never mind top four.

The emboldened Ralf Rangnick diagnosed open-heart surgery for the United squad nearly three years ago, yet he was an interim manager. Amorim is