It started off as a season or so, then rose to three transfer windows, about 18 months; but this week Ralf Rangnick gave a more realistic appraisal of how long it might take Manchester United to catch their rivals: six years.
Erik ten Hag was on Thursday confirmed as the new manager so Rangnick can drop the Pollyanna act at last. He no longer has to pretend it is all going to be fine. Rangnick’s briefings on Manchester United’s transition period have always been wildly optimistic. Even a period of two seasons appears over-confident given what we are now seeing.