For Manchester United, the week had started with an apology – the abject performance in the 1-0 Premier League defeat at Newcastle. And it finished with another one, more literal this time, served up by the captain, Bruno Fernandes, after the 3-0 home loss against Bournemouth on Saturday.
In between times, there was the 2-1 victory against Chelsea at Old Trafford, which was lauded in some quarters as the best display of the season, even if there were still holes in it – specifically the one in front of the back four to defend the counterattack and the lack of ruthlessness in the final third.
