Man United have lost their way not just as a team but as a club

Jose Mourinho faces a challenge far bigger than simply beating rivals Manchester City in the EFL Cup tomorrow as he surveys the wreckage of a 4-0 defeat at Chelsea; and that is to find a strong and definable identity for a team and a club that has long forgotten what its mission statement was and how it was going to get there.

Manchester United’s performance on Sunday, coming on the back of a promising attacking display against Fenerbahce and a polemically different defensive display at Liverpool before that, was a huge disappointment for a global fan base drawn to the club because of its rich history, grand aura and reputation not just for winning trophies but for doing it with a style that combines skill and glamour with passion and high-octane excitement.

How many of those boxes can this current team tick?