Solskjaer and his spineless United flops were left with faces as red as their shirts following their biggest hammering since 2011.

The fact it was Tottenham and former boss Jose Mourinho who delivered it just rubbed more salt into United’s gaping wounds – ones that could take a long, long time to heal.

United had been reduced to 10 men before half time, but this had little bearing on the eventual outcome.

The day had started with the news Edinson Cavani had jetted into Manchester to undergo a medical ahead of a free transfer to United.

But part of the medical should have included him having his head examined – because the Uruguayan striker must be mad to even contemplate joining a team that now concedes goals for fun due to its defence being nowhere near the standards expected or required at this level.

If one game showed how skewed United’s priorities in the transfer market have become, it was this one. United need new defenders, not ageing forwards past their best.