Rio Ferdinand was not in the BT Sport studio for this particular Manchester United European exit, yet still managed to have the definitive say on a frustrating night.
"You don’t take ya chances you get punished," was his one and only tweet after the game. "You don’t defend well you get punished. No need for insight tonight!"
There can be little quibbling with either part of that snap assessment, as United fans, coaches and players gather their thoughts after the 2-1 defeat to Sevilla. Two major defensive lapses cost United, as both times full-backs failed to stop crosses and men in the middle did not track their runners.
Yet better finishing and United would surely have been two or three goals clear by the hour mark, after they bombarded the Spanish team in a purple patch after the break; 20 shots rained down on Bono's goal in total yet United only scored once, from a penalty.
Some criticism was reserved for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the game; many believed the Norwegian did not make changes early enough. The defence for the Norwegian is that team was functioning smoothly and carving out chance after chance. As Ferdinand said, if you don't take them, you should not be surprised when the sucker punch arrives and it duly did via Sevilla substitute Luuk de Jong.
But if a lack of clinical finishing was United's biggest flaw in the 90 minutes, it doesn't mean that is also their biggest weakness to address in the transfer window. It is inevitable that talk should immediately shift to the summer transfer search after a galling defeat and Paul Scholes was quick to say Jadon Sancho would have made the difference.
"If you think a Sancho is in that team tonight then United are winning," said the former United midfielder. "They need to spend money."
It's a little simplistic and the truth is, United will never know. They can only hope Sancho does improve the finishing at United if he ever arrives from Borussia Dortmund.
Yet many others focussed their attention on the need for a genuine No.9, a poacher who may have buried one of the chances missed by Anthony Martial against Sevilla. It was like deja vu reading the tweets from supporters and critics who believe only a natural goal-getter of Harry Kane's ilk would have put away those chances.
Scholes was also asked about Kane in the BT Sport studio and how his arrival might affect Martial. "Hopefully it’ll make him better," he said. "There’s no reason why you can’t have competition in the team.
"You think of the great teams down the years, you have three or four centre-forwards. What’s wrong with that?"
Again, the truth is far more nuanced even if Martial — who Scholes admitted had been "sensational" of late — did have an off day in Cologne. This, however, is still a striker who has enjoyed a sensational season, scoring 24 goals in all competitions and who was being lavished with praise less than a week ago for his display against Copenhagen. He was doubted a year ago when given the role and still has his doubters now, clearly.
The magnifying glass will always be on a centre-forward after a game in which his side doesn't score the goals they deserve. And that scrutiny may well increase if ex-United striker Romelu Lukaku leads Inter Milan to Europa League glory, rubbing salt into the wounds of Solskjaer and Martial.
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But Solskjaer has always been about the process and has built his side around a fluid frontline led by Martial to expose defences. He shunned the opportunity to play with a static focal point in attack, therefore happily sold Lukaku. He hasn't bought Kane, Mario Mandzukic or another traditional target man. He wants Martial, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Sancho to make up a youthful, vibrant and speedy attack. It may misfire on occasion but the hope is that it will improve with age.
If there is a change to be made to United's transfer priorities this summer, then it's surely to make the necessary improvements to a defence prone to lapses in concentration. Maybe a centre-back to usurp Victor Lindelof or another left-back option, with the injured Luke Shaw missed against Sevilla, should be high on the shortlist.
Signing a centre-forward would be an unnecessary use of funds and an unwise slap in the face of Martial, who has enjoyed a stellar campaign.
Solskjaer got it spot on when asked about transfers after the final whistle in Cologne.
"It’s not about marquee, it’s about quality," he said. "You need to have the right player, the right personality, someone who fits into the group and makes us better. We might look at it today and see where we can improve it."
There is no indication that United are about to change their priorities after one undeserved Europa League defeat. Trust the process.
