On the day it emerged HS2 would not be reaching the city, Manchester United's season once again derailed with another damaging defeat.
Tuesday night's 3-2 Champions League loss to Galatasaray, hot on the heels of Saturday's miserable 1-0 Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace, means another Old Trafford crisis is brewing.
It was United's sixth defeat from 10 matches this season, their worst start since 1986, and also the first time they've lost their opening two Champions League games.
While Erik ten Hag's job isn't under imminent threat, the manager will have to take his fair share of criticism despite mitigating factors such as injuries.