The final question Ruben Amorim fielded before the press wished him Merry Christmas and vice versa was not particularly merry.

"Bournemouth have a capacity stadium of 13,000 and are fifth. Why are Manchester United 13th? Real Madrid wouldn't be 13th. Bayern Munich wouldn't be 13th," the journalist stressed. The crux of the question was, 'how can United be so bad?'

"It’s a difficult question to answer," Amorim admitted, "and we have to know that and don’t let this become normal. I understand it’s a tough moment and it is on me. Since the first day that I arrive, it’s on me because I’m responsible for the team. We cannot think about that, we just have to think about improving, to understand the context and not focus on what happened in the past."

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Amorim is an upbeat personality whatever the score. He offers a "hi guys" whenever he enters a press conference room and he brought some levity to his post-match interrogation on Sunday.

"If I knew, I would solve all the problems of this club," he assured, "Even this." At which point, Amorim pointed at the leak in the ceiling.

Team news leaks, goals leaked and a leaking ceiling just about encapsulate the plight of United, marooned in 13th in the Premier League. Last season's eighth place was their worst finish in 34 years and there is a genuine danger United could end up lower than that.

Amorim has been complicit in recent damaging defeats. The selections of Altay Bayindir and Tyrell Malacia were costly against Tottenham and Bournemouth last week while United's defending at set pieces is the second worst in the league.

"I know what I’m going to do," Amorim insisted, "that is so clear for me. I feel so, not relaxed, because I’m really frustrated like the fans, but I know what to do. We have to solve some problems step by step, finding answers for everything but it is a very difficult moment, we understand the fans and we will fight that.

"I cannot say better things for the fans. What I am trying to say to the fans is we understand, I understand as a coach, I understand the moment, I understand the frustration, the disappointment, I understand. And we will improve.

"It will take time. I said the same thing here after Everton and people were talking about the top four. So I know it’s going to be really tough. It's important for us that in this side to say to the supporters we understand, I understand, and they are incredible.

"We are doing a season that maybe you cannot see for long years and we know that. The only way to face this is to prepare the next game like we won - you can say that - and then try and go again, try to win a match.

"It’s just from us, they need our help and not the other way around. They are doing everything right."

Amorim is yet to master rotation. He has made 42 changes across the last eight fixtures and not once named an unchanged XI. The defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday was the first time Amorim did not make five substitutions.

The Portuguese clarified after the 2-0 reverse at Arsenal three weeks ago that rotation is enforced and he doubled down on that. "In this moment, is not rotation to see the players and prepare the future, is simply to not have injuries.

"Matthijs (de Ligt) is sick, Harry Maguire did 90 minutes against City, he cannot play three days before because he played 90 minutes [in] three months, he did it one time against City, so we have to rotate him during the week. Today he is playing.

"Kobbie Mainoo played, he returned from injury, so I have to think if he’s ready to cope with both games, so sometimes I have to play two games at the same moment. Rasmus (Hojlund) played two games, the third game today we needed fresh legs.

"So we are trying to address everything. I just want to win games because I know that there’s a long-term project and we are focused on that. But I also know big clubs don’t have a lot of time and you have to win games. So I have a clear idea the responsibility that I have here.

"But I’m trying to manage this team so we don’t have injuries. If we have injuries it’s a massive problem. And try to win games and manage all the players, so I’m not rotating to see the future. I just want to win games and not have injuries. If we have injuries, is a big problem."

There was an inane question on coaching a team on Boxing Day. "I just want to win! I don’t care about Christmas and nothing!" Amorim laughed.

He still wished us a merry Christmas.