Manchester United were four goals down against Liverpool at Old Trafford in October before half-time. United had been dominated, humiliated and embarrassed in 45 minutes of football. They had forgotten the basics. It was an unforgivable performance.
Cristiano Ronaldo was incensed. The forward had returned to United to win trophies and he was reduced to being degraded by his club's most fierce rivals instead. Liverpool's Curtis Jones fell to the floor just before the interval and Ronaldo's frustration was suddenly unloaded. Ronaldo twice kicked the ball that was wedged under Jones' body. Liverpool's players wanted him sent off.
Ronaldo survived and received a yellow card for that incident. Liverpool scored moments later on the stroke of half-time through Mohamed Salah to make the game 4-0 and Ronaldo probably wished he had been handed his marching orders. He wanted the pitch to swallow him up but he had to play the second half. Ronaldo didn't come back to United for misery and humiliation.
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It has been a disastrous season for United. The tangible hope and optimism surrounding the club after the signings of Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane and the summer didn't last long. Those emotions were soon replaced by despair and anger.
David de Gea has been United's standout performer this season but Ronaldo would be second. While he suffered a difficult winter, enduring his worst goal drought for over a decade, his talismanic performances from the start of the campaign ensure he still has credit in the bank. Ronaldo's hat-trick against Tottenham also helped to save some face. That sort of brilliance was overdue.
United's failures this season have left their hopes of securing Champions League football hanging by a thread. Arsenal are in fourth position and they're four points ahead of United with one game in hand. It is a damning indictment of the level United have been performing at that Arsenal are now favourites to finish in the top four - they were outsiders at the start of the season.
After United suffered yet another humiliation against Manchester City before the international break, debate on Ronaldo's future emerged in the post-match analysis. Gary Neville suggested the power would be in Ronaldo's hands regarding whether he stays at United beyond this season and he was right. Ronaldo will decide whether he wants to stay at a club that is drifting.
It is understood that Ronaldo's decision will rest upon whether United secure Champions League football, which currently looks unlikely. It is difficult to imagine the five-time Ballon d'Or winner walking out on a pitch to Europa League music.
United can't afford to drop points if they are to finish in the top four. Their five games after the international break will decide their fate and that means Ronaldo's decision on his future could be made before May when the summer nights begin to arrive.
United are set to play Leicester, Everton, Norwich, Liverpool and Arsenal - the latter two fixtures are both away - across April. United should just about beat the first three opponents, but their hopes of finishing in the top four could be ended for the season by the time they visit Anfield and The Emirates. United need a point from Liverpool and they need to beat Arsenal in those two games.
That seems unlikely on current form. Another humiliation at Anfield seems more realistic and that would almost certainly be the final nail in the coffin of Ronaldo's second stint at the club. The red mist descended over Ronaldo in the reverse fixture.
It would be bitterly disappointing if another heavy defeat to Liverpool was to be the result that swayed Ronaldo's decision.
Ronaldo leaving this summer is perhaps within the long-term interest of the club but that decision should be made on the best terms possible, considering the circumstances. It has hardly been a fairytale ending to his United story.
Ronaldo has deserved a better homecoming than what he's been part of this season. United fans have also deserved better and Ronaldo's second stint has the obvious potential for an unsatisfactory ending, even more so than it already promises to be.
United have failed as a club this season and they've let down one of their all-time greats in the process.
They need to salvage some dignity with some resilient performances after the break.
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