Manchester United snubbed Ralf Rangnick's plea to bring in a new striker on January transfer deadline day, the German interim boss said.
United loaned Anthony Martial to Sevilla, Edinson Cavani was struggling with an injury and Mason Greenwood was unavailable for selection.
Rangnick has highlighted "a few" strikers who moved in the window.
"The answer at the time was no, there is no player on the market that can really help us," he said.
"I still believe we should have tried in those 48 hours," said Rangnick. "The board sees it the same way. They agreed.