Manchester United's beleaguered squad looked glum as they arrived for training on Monday morning - less than 24 hours after they were thrashed by their neighbours in the Manchester derby.
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both grabbed hat-tricks for Manchester City, who ran riot in a resounding 6-3 win at the Etihad Stadium. The Premier League champions left Erik ten Hag's side shellshocked by surging into a 4-0 lead in the first half. And although Antony and Anthony Martial managed to get themselves on the scoresheet after the break, the damage was already done.
Cristiano Ronaldo was amongst the players who arrived at the club's Carrington training base for the inquest following Sunday's match. The Portuguese superstar was an unused substitute against City, with Ten Hag insisting after the game that he kept Ronaldo away from the action out of "respect" for the 37-year-old and his storied career - a stance that was quickly rubbished by Roy Keane.
The crushing derby defeat brought United's impressive run of four consecutive league wins to an abrupt halt. And the lacklustre performance left Ten Hag absolutely bewildered.
After pinpointing his side's "lack of belief", Ten Hag told Sky Sports: "I'm surprised why we didn't bring that on the pitch. I have seen a different team, a different spirit and a different fight... We were not brave in possession. It is always difficult to find out.
"The players know they can do better. If you don't fight, then you have a problem against a team like Manchester City. This is definitely different [to the 4-0 defeat at Brentford]. We didn't run there. We wanted to today but didn't follow the principles."
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The Dutchman made it clear that a repeat performance simply would not be tolerated after United slumped to yet another heavy defeat - and he heavily hinted that his flops would be blasted in training after the match.
The United chief added: "It was a lack of belief. I will show the team tomorrow that we could have been front-footed. We win the ball then give it away for the first goal. We take wrong decisions in the transition afterwards. We don't follow the rules so we are undisciplined. It cannot happen. It is unacceptable.
"It is a process. It is one game. Maybe against other teams, the problems would not come but against Manchester City they will. I want to change the head and the attitude from the team. There was a reaction in the second half. We were more brave and scored three goals. Only from mistakes, you learn."
United will be bidding to make amends quickly against Omonia in the Europa League on Thursday night before they travel to Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.
