Jose Mourinho did not say much during his four-minute press conference - just 13 answers totalling 336 words in fact - but the exchange in itself said a lot.
It told us the Manchester United manager is feeling the pressure amid inconsistent results, trouble with Ed Woodward and talk of a strained relationship with Paul Pogba.
Mourinho does not buy into the idea of 'third-season syndrome' but the Portuguese is not helping himself, and here we take a look at five issues he must fix.
AT LEAST GET THE BALL IN THE BOX, JOSE…
It’s difficult to score when you don’t have the ball in the opponents’ box, and that is what Mourinho’s United are discovering.
United have averaged the sixth most possession in the Premier League yet sit bottom of the pile for percentage of touches in the opposition area.
They have the ball but aren’t always using it in attack. As a result, they have managed 17 shots so far this season, compared to 49 by Manchester City, 40 by Tottenham, 37 by Chelsea, 34 by Liverpool and 24 by Arsenal.
In the modern era where fast, fluid football dominates, United are doing it a different way.
After last weekend's 3-2 loss, Brighton summer signing Leon Balogun summed it up best. 'I had expected the Premier League to be quicker,' he said, 'but they (his team-mates) told me this is always the kind of game you play against Man United – they like to slow it down.'
Slow and steady can win the odd race, but United could benefit from becoming more direct.
THE CENTRE BACK CONUNDRUM
Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld heads to Old Trafford on Monday knowing, had things gone differently in the summer, he could have been wearing red rather than white.
Mourinho wanted a central defender in the summer, with Alderweireld towards the top of his list, but United did not deliver. Now, they are stuck with what they have.
After the defeat by Brighton, Gary Neville could not hold back his frustration with Woodward, saying: ‘Jose Mourinho was brought here to win. You can’t three quarters build a house then stop. It looks to me at the moment like the board have retreated.’
Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof have been the centre backs used by United as a result, but they have conceded four goals in two games and struggled against Brighton.
Now, Mourinho has to decide whether it is time to switch to three at the back against Tottenham in a bid to plug the gaps.
NO MORE LAZINESS
Sportsmail columnist and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp could see from the Amex Stadium sidelines what the difference was between Brighton and United.
‘Eight of those Manchester United players that finished the game got to the World Cup quarter-final, so are they bad players? Of course they’re not, but they are not putting in a shift.
‘They have got to do more. They have got to put more effort in. They have got to show desire.’
Redknapp was right. United’s players ran a total of 99.5km at the Amex. Brighton’s ran 108.5km.
Mourinho’s men became only the third team to run less than 100km in a Premier League match this season and, unlike others, they finished the game with 11 men.
United also managed 74 sprints in total against Brighton – the fewest in a top-flight fixture this season.
After falling behind, they showed little to no interest in making the home side sweat. Desire was in short supply.
WHAT TO DO WITH ANTHONY MARTIAL?
When United lost 1-0 to Brighton last season, with Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku absent, Mourinho did not hold back in his criticism of replacements Martial and Marcus Rashford.
‘You are always asking me why this player doesn’t play, why that player doesn’t play,’ Mourinho said. ‘For 10 months I get asked, “Why always Lukaku? Why always Lukaku?” You know why now.’
It meant Martial finished last season on rocky ground, and he has started this one the same way.
Against Leicester, the 22-year-old was an unused substitute. Against Brighton, Martial started, though was hooked after an hour, replaced by Marouane Fellaini.
This comes after his decision to leave United’s pre-season tour to Miami to be at the birth of his son in Paris and then not return. Mourinho hardly hid his frustration at the situation.
So what now? United supporters do not want Martial to become another mistake by Mourinho, similar to Kevin De Bruyne or Mohamed Salah. He has potential, but is rarely in the Portuguese’s good books.
MAKE OLD TRAFFORD A FORTRESS AGAIN
United’s next Premier League home defeat will be their 50th in the competition at Old Trafford – a milestone no managers wants.
A total of 15 of those have come since 2013-14 – the first season without Sir Alex Ferguson in charge.
United’s season-opening win over Leicester was far from convincing but they got the job done. Part of Mourinho’s job is to get the feel-good factor back at the Theatre of Dreams.
In 2016-17, they suffered only a single defeat at Old Trafford but drew 10 times, ultimately finishing sixth. In 2017-18, they lost twice and drew as many, finishing second. Progress.
Sometimes the style of play can be the difference between a good and bad mood among a fanbase. Against Tottenham, they have an opportunity to get back to business.
Old Trafford is the only ground Mauricio Pochettino has yet to pick up a point – or score a single goal – with Spurs. In four trips there, they have left empty-handed each time.
If United are to challenge City for the title, or even secure Champions League football, they must be solid at home.