Ruud van Nistelrooy fixed his inquisitor with the same cold stare that will be familiar to a generation of Premier League goalkeepers.
So had he spoken to Ruben Amorim or considered setting up his team with one eye on Manchester United’s new manager taking over later this month?
‘Is he already announced?’ replied the Dutchman bluntly. ‘Obviously I won’t talk to somebody who’s not announced, that’s logical in my opinion. What the future will bring, we’ll see.’
And that’s the problem. For Van Nistelrooy. For Amorim. For the players of both clubs for the next three games, it seems.