Some Manchester United players lacked focus when they arrived at Crystal Palace

Rasmus Hojlund headed towards some YouTube players when he arrived at Selhurst Park. On current form, Hojlund is more likely to score playing on Fifa than on the pitch.

Hojlund scored one goal less than Nicolas Jackson often scored for Chelsea. Jackson is 22 and Hojlund 21 and also arrived in England from a “big five” league. Both are top of the line in pressurized environments, so the comparison is valid.

Cody Gakpo, 25 years old today, also has one more goal than Hojlund. Gakpo cost a final fee of £44.3m and Jackson moved for £32m. The £72million Hojlund is beyond reproach for overpaying Manchester United, but when they falter, appearances count. Deviating to salute some influencers while having just one goal in eight games counts. Now it’s one in nine.

Diogo Dalot, United’s longest-serving starter, offered a salute to the assembled players. He was later wiping his brow after a night spent with Eberechi Eze.

A match friend stayed at the Hilton Croydon, where United checked in on Monday afternoon, and watched the team take to the pitch. He said Erik ten Hag “looked beaten up”.

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There were around two dozen supporters in attendance for United’s send-off and the player said Ten Hag did not recognize them. Later that evening, he gave life to the followers in the Arthur Wait Stand. The party adjourned to return to the Hilton.

A reaction never occurred. Another away friend described the scenes at Full Time as “moving”. Every United player applauded the traveling support and it was reciprocated.

“I saw the fans, they support us from minute one to the end,” Ten Hag said at the post-match press conference. “They’ve been behind the team so I think they see the problems we have.

“I’m very happy, happy with their support and the team is very happy with him and we should have taken their fighting spirit on the pitch.”

The reception for the players was not as supportive after United were beaten 4-0 in London last season. The players were met with invective after the generational nadir at Brentford. Crystal Palace was the high point of the season.

“We let each other down and you have the worst defeat,” Ten Hag admitted. It was May Day for United.

The season ticket holder who witnessed the “glow” still thinks the Ten Hag should stay. Hope he doesn’t mind me saying it’s akin to Nadine Dorries supporting Boris Johnson in his final weeks in Number 10.

Nine of United’s starters have been bought or made their debut under the Ten Hag. The starting XI was assembled at a cost of £404.5m, around the figure United have invested in signings on the Ten Hag’s watch.

Oliver Glasner was appointed by Palace less than three months ago and his fingerprints are already all over the team. Unai Emery, Ange Postecoglou and Andoni Iraola did likewise at Aston Villa, Tottenham and Bournemouth.

They all rejoined their clubs after the Ten Hag were paraded by United, still out of style and mired in an identity crisis. What Ten Hag saw at Selhurst on Monday night was far worse than when he sat in the directors’ box in the main stand as he prepared to take charge two years ago.

Glasner took a beating on Ten Hag and there could be more brutal beatings to come. Arsenal have not won at Old Trafford in the league since September 2006, but they will be formidable opponents on Sunday, Newcastle have done a number on United twice this season and Brighton, winners of their last four league games against United won. their number.

A season ticket holder standing near the Stretford End tunnel suggested after the draw against Burnley that it could be United’s last point of the season. There is also an expensive FA Cup final against City.

“There is an etiquette among United fans,” said the friend who stayed away. “They know when to share and when to get behind them, especially when they have a cup final to play.”

Don’t be surprised to hear the “We’ll support you more and more” chant at any of United’s last three games. The boos have been a big part of United’s season, but the mood was more caustic during the FA Cup semi-final, which ended in miserable success, than at Palace.

United’s players were superbly supported in a God-forsaken away kick-off on Monday night. Many will be delayed by an accident on the M25 and arrived home at 2am on a weekday.

United fans went to Brentford, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Wembley and Palace in the space of 38 days and the team failed to win any of them outright. United’s end quickly emptied after their only penalty shootout success against Coventry.

They will be there in Brighton on Sunday week and at Wembley on the 25th. Seven-year-old Francis could be among the traveling supporters. Dressed in a United shirt, he took part in the half-time penalty shootout at Selhurst and scored.

United’s drive was on target.