It took Christian Eriksen five words to sum up his and Manchester United's Saturday afternoon in the sweltering heat of west London. Bizarrely booed by fans of the club he spent the second half of last season representing, Eriksen was hounded and hassled in an unfamiliar position, targetted by his former teammates as a weak link in a holding midfield position.
The Dane was pressed constantly and struggled to dictate the tempo from his role in Erik ten Hag's side. United were crushed 4-0 by Brentford, their latest humiliation in a catalogue full of them.
Eriksen trudged through the mixed zone half an hour after full-time and was asked to stop for a word by the journalists present. "Not today, it was a terrible day."
READ MORE: De Gea gives verdict on his performance vs Brentford
Five words cut to the heart of another Manchester United horror show. Bottom of the league, beaten by Brighton and Brentford, with confidence battered and egos bruised. "You should have stayed at a big club," the home fans taunted Eriksen with. He could indeed be forgiven for wondering what on earth he has done.
It was a parade of glum faces as United's players made their way through the mixed zone and to the team coach after the game. Scott McTominay couldn't face the prospect of talking about what had just happened and he clearly wasn't alone.
To his credit, David de Gea did front up, asking to speak to the Manchester-based journalists to take responsibility for what had transpired. Just over three weeks ago he sat in a hotel room in Perth and talked to some of the same group, exuding the positivity that had taken hold in pre-season. It feels a lifetime ago now.
Supporters felt the same excitement when they watched Ten Hag's team play in pre-season, but the return to competitive action has brought about a familiar feeling. "If United score, we're on the pitch" echoed from the away end on Saturday. The stewards had nothing to worry about.
When the players approached those supporters they were met with brickbats rather than thanks. Cristiano Ronaldo saw what was unfolding and turned on his heels, heading straight for the tunnel. He wanted no part of it.
As the United players trudged through, Brentford's players were stopping to talk about how they had unpicked their opposite numbers. Targeting Lisandro Martinez in the air, pressing Eriksen. It was all so simple.
Once United's players had got out of the building there was worse waiting for them. Just past their two coaches, supporters were waiting behind barriers. This was mostly Brentford fans looking for a glimpse of the players who had delivered one of the best days in their history.
But the loudest voice belonged to the United fan at the front, who had elbowed his way between the children hunting autographs and taking selfies to deliver what he felt were a few home truths. Fred and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were first out and were told to "f**k off". The screams would have drowned out the low-flying jets overhead, heading for Heathrow Airport, but the players had to shrug them off.
Donny van de Beek got off lightly. "Keep your head up Donny, you deserve better". The Dutchman is avoiding association with this debacle by not being in the team, but if he can't get in this midfield his future appears bleak.
There were words of encouragement for James Garner, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia. Luke Shaw, taken off at half-time, got it in the neck and Marcus Rashford was told to "sort it out, this isn't good enough".
Then came Harry Maguire. "You're a disgrace, get out", was the message. The captain is having a terrible time of things, but Lisandro Martinez was clearly more culpable at Brentford.
The players managed to ignore the vociferous - and lone - catcalls. By this point, most United fans were on buses and in cars back north. A long journey south, on a day of train strikes, in stifling and, occasionally, unbearable heat, to witness another debacle first-hand.
It was a terrible day.
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