Erik ten Hag has demanded a response from his Manchester United side following their thrashing at the hands of Liverpool. That reaction needs to come not only against Real Betis tonight, but in the months that follow.
The manner of United's humiliation brought into question just how many things have really changed this season, and whether the Ten Hag revolution has really been as successful as it seemed just a week ago.
United did what they hadn't done in nearly six years when they won the Carabao Cup at Wembley, then followed it up with something they hadn't done in 92 years by losing by seven goals.
Read next: United have better striker signing options than Harry Kane
The task now is not only to bounce back with a commanding performance against Real Betis on Thursday night, but to prove that their Anfield annihilation really was a one-off and a freak result that will forever go down as an anomaly.
It is particularly important given that the next two months of the season will effectively act as the sales pitch for any summer recruits, as United look to convince top targets of why they will be better off moving to Manchester at the end of the season.
United hold an interest in many elite-level players as they look to take the next step in their rebuild, but the very nature of that interest also means that there are many other teams rivalling them for the players' signatures.
Victor Osimhen is the top target as United look to sign a new striker this summer, and after a superb season with Napoli, he will be on the top of many other teams' shopping lists as well.
The 24-year-old has also been linked with a move to Arsenal, and given they could win the Premier League, they might well be the more attractive proposal to him.
Osimhen has already expressed his desire to play in the English top flight, and if he also dreams of winning it, then there is an argument that he'd have more chance of doing so with Mikel Arteta's side than Ten Hag's.
It means United could well have to look at alternatives up top, with Harry Kane perhaps a more attainable proposition, given there would be less competition for his signature.
Kane could well be the better immediate impact signing to add firepower to the forward line, but at the age of 29, he is not exactly a long-term investment and might need replacing himself after a few years.
United are also facing a similar problem in their search for a new central midfielder. Frenkie de Jong is still on their wish list heading into the summer, but the club might not have done enough to convince him they are worth leaving his dream club for.
The Dutch midfielder experienced first-hand just how good Ten Hag's side can be, but given that he looks certain to win La Liga this season, he might well prefer to stay where he is rather than search for a new challenge that is less certain to bring success.
It will also be tricky for United to convince long-term target Jude Bellingham that they are the club he should sign for when he will have so many other offers on the table this summer.
Liverpool are said to be growing more confident in their pursuit of the 19-year-old, and their weekend thrashing of United boosted their chances of playing in the Champions League next season.
City and Chelsea could also represent domestic rivals to sign the England international, while it would also be no surprise if European elites like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich also threw their hats in the ring for a move.
United might well be able to make their own sales pitch for why Osimhen and Bellingham could be integral to their next era of dominance, but many other clubs will be able to do similar too.
Ten Hag is right to demand a response on the pitch tonight, and it could have implications for what happens off it too.
NEXT UP:
