As panic intensified inside Old Trafford while supposed allies reneged on their European Super League involvement there was no news from Manchester United.
Then, at 10.56pm with breakaway plans in ruins, United's Twitter account confirmed what many already knew to be true. United were joining City, Chelsea and others in abandoning the venture.
But there was no remorse, no apology, just a pathetic 52-word statement. It was a cowardly conclusion to a catastrophic and reputationally-wounding 48 hours.
'Manchester United will not be participating in the European Super League,' the statement read.