Ruben Amorim did not pull any punches after a disappointing start to his career in the Manchester United dugout on Sunday, admitting the troubled club will "suffer for a long time".
If that is not what frustrated fans want to hear, the evidence from the underwhelming 1-1 draw at lowly Ipswich was stark.
The visitors got off to a dream start when Marcus Rashford scored from close-range in the second minute after a fine run from makeshift wing-back Amad Diallo.
But United quickly went off the boil, looking ponderous in attack and uncertain at the back, with Omari Hutchinson giving third-bottom Ipswich a deserved equaliser at the end of the first half.
Neither team could find a winner after the break.
"We are going to suffer for a long period, and we will try to win games," Amorim told his post-match press conference, seeking to temper expectations.
"This will take time, but I know we have to win games. We could have won, we could have lost if it were not for (goalkeeper Andre) Onana.
"We have to understand that and think and be pragmatic that these guys had two days to train and to change so much."
United, languishing in 12th place in the Premier League, are already 15 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after 12 games and six points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal.
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