Manchester United's very fabric is sewn together by winning silverware, which is why, for all the talk of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's progress at the club, Wednesday's Europa League final defeat against Villarreal generated that awful, dark, sinking feeling.
While some of Solskjaer's shortcomings in the dugout were exposed in Gdansk, such as team-selection failures and an undeniably concerning lack of willingness to make any substitutions, he's earned the right to lead United forward next season.
One defeat in a penalty shootout does not make you a bad manager, nor should it define your tenure, and now that the dust has settled on that humiliation in Poland, the Norwegian's attention will turn to the transfer market because his team requires reinforcement.
With the benefit of hindsight, the signing of Edinson Cavani has proven to be a masterstroke, and Solskjaer's persuasion of the 34-year-old to extend his stay in Manchester has been shrewd business, but there has also been an element of fortune about that move.
Despite the fact that the reality is different, United's signing of Cavani had all the hallmarks of a disastrous and panicked transfer, reminiscent of their gamble with Odion Ighalo last year, which suggested they were playing roulette with their transfer strategy.
All too often in recent years, United have failed in the transfer market, betting on the wrong horse, but this summer feels like a watershed moment in the club's history, and they need to raise the stakes, going all-in with a statement of intent.
Solskjaer has refused to rule out signing a striker, and one obvious candidate is Erling Haaland, but without mentioning that the pair could rekindle an already established relationship, it could be the perfect marriage.
"I'm a simpleton. When I like something, I want more of it. As I previously stated, when I score a goal, I always look for the next one. I recently won my first major trophy, and it was an incredible feeling, so I want to win more trophies "This week, Haaland stated.
There's nothing simple about winning trophies - it's the ultimate reward for any club in any competition anywhere in the world - but United haven't won silverware in four years, despite the fact that the solution is right in front of them.
While it appears unlikely that Borussia Dortmund will sanction a transfer for Haaland this summer, it would be foolish for United not to put their resolve to the test, and if that fails, they should put themselves at the front of the queue to sign the 20-year-old next season.
What are the similarities between United and Haaland? They both want to win a lot of trophies, and they can work together to make that happen, but it appears that they both need success now; there's no time for 'progress' and playing the bridesmaid.
It's believed Haaland has a release clause in his contract that will allow him to leave the club for €75 million next summer, so Solskajer will be hoping Cavani can keep up his form before making a move for the Dortmund star.
If United does not sign Haaland this summer, it should be their final bet; they must go all in to sign him next year.
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