"You don't even need glasses to see the problems," said Ralf Rangnick in 2022. "Now it's only about how you can solve them. Not minor cosmetic things. This is an open heart operation. If everyone realises this has to happen and works together, it doesn't need to take years. It can happen within one year."

Rangnick produced some jaw-dropping quotes during his time as Manchester United's interim manager and his open heart surgery line struck the perfect note with a disenchanted fanbase.

The German said what every fan was thinking during that trainwreck season. The only problem is that particular quote is still being mentioned this term yet it doesn't apply to the current situation because Erik ten Hag did conduct 'open heart surgery' at Old Trafford.

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Ten Hag spent more than £600million on mostly dross during his tenure and botched the operation which has left United in a critical condition with a new manager in charge.

It is genuinely staggering that Ten Hag spent so much and left United in such a mess. He is not the only person to blame, of course, but Ten Hag was given a big say on transfers and the squad doesn't even have the quality to win the Eredivisie title.

Most of the players who were part of that forgettable era are no longer at the club. Tom Heaton, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford are the only survivors from Rangnick's spell and the current squad was moulded by Ten Hag.

There was a major failure in the operating theatre during Ten Hag's tenure and Ruben Amorim has a huge job on his hands because of it.

Antony could be remembered as the worst Premier League signing ever. Rasmus Hojlund was not worth the potential £72million outlay, Casemiro was an extortionate signing for the cost of a single good season and Mason Mount has spent far too much time in the treatment room.

The prospect of needing a new goalkeeper, despite signing Andre Onana for £47m, is looking increasingly likely and United may have to cut their losses with £36m signing Joshua Zirkzee.

United are paying the price for some terrible decisions. The Glazers, Richard Arnold and John Murtough are responsible for allowing it to happen and it has seen the club plummet to a new low.

Rangnick was referencing the entire club and not just the playing squad when he provided journalists with the open heart surgery headline in 2022. That unlikable squad needed to be overhauled, but Rangnick also believed structural changes were desperately needed.

That finally happened at the beginning of 2024 when Ineos gained control of football operations. Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrada and Dan Ashworth were appointed to a new-look leadership team by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and it seemed like United would act like a serious football club again.

However, those hopes were ended when Ineos decided to keep Ten Hag and continued to sign the type of players the previous regime signed. Manuel Ugarte and Leny Yoro felt different, but the rest of the window was Dutch-centric and United backed a manager they should have sacked.

The decision to keep Ten Hag was made by Ineos and it could set the club back another five years. The team probably needs another £600m makeover before a Premier League title challenge can be considered, but the kitty has been emptied and Amorim will not be given the same resources.

United are essentially asking Amorim to turn water into wine. He is having to fit square pegs in round holes and must not believe the majority of the players he inherited are worth the money United paid for them.

The club has been knocked to the canvas and even more money is required to get back up.