The chaos continues, and so will the scrutiny on Michael Carrick . In a match where Manchester United needed a win to stop the rot, a goal within 47 seconds and a red card for Leny Yoro set up a bruising loss to Atletico Madrid .

If the draw to Tottenham last week brought a sense of disbelief at full-time, this was a game that will leave many with a sense of hopelessness. United barely looked like they even believed they could turn it around, in what is a fitting metaphor for Carrick’s current situation.

Indeed, at the same venue where this season’s Champions League final will be held, United provided a reminder – not that any was needed – of exactly why they won’t be participating in club football’s biggest game in June.

United desperately needed to keep things tight at the back early on if they were to settle the nerves at a raucous Metropolitano, and yet they were behind within a minute .

The goal summed up the current circus, with far too much space behind the defence as Alex Baena raced clear. United never looked like they could deal with it, and their fears were confirmed as Pablo Barrios opened the scoring within 53 seconds.

It was the worst possible start but it felt oddly befitting of this current United side, who seem to produce a ridiculous moment (or performance) every week.

Conceding within a minute at one of the most difficult away grounds in Europe suggested that United would be in for a disastrous evening, though they did manage to wrestle back some momentum, with Bryan Mbeumo forcing a superb save from Jan Oblak.

United continued to threaten – with Mbeumo going close again and Carlos Baleba missing a free header at the back post – but it was the hosts who looked the most dangerous, with several well-worked attacks that led them into the United penalty area.