For the first time ever, Manchester United have lost consecutive Champions League games.

This season, United have lost six of their 10 matches in all competitions. Additionally, they have conceded 18 goals in 10 games in all competitions in 2023-24, their most since 1966-67.

At times like these, statistics can be haunting.

David Moyes lost at home to Everton for the first time in 21 years, followed by a home defeat to Newcastle for the first time in 41 years.

5-0 loss at home to Liverpool was an unwanted record for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

It was Louis van Gaal’s lowest number of Premier League wins and fewest goals scored in 2015-16.

3-0 defeat by Tottenham at Old Trafford in 2018 was Jose Mourinho’s heaviest home loss.

Ten Hag’s own words are also damning.

Even before Tuesday’s defeat, he said in his programme notes that “our start to the season has not been good enough.” Despite the reasons, he said, “we will not hide behind excuses. What happens next is up to us.”

In recent years, the problem at United has been what happens next, not necessarily next week or even next month, but when a spiral like this started, the manager usually was thrown out.