Ruben Amorim's words were scarcely believable.
The Portuguese head coach's side had just been beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United at Old Trafford, leaving the Red Devils in 14th place and seven points above the relegation zone.
Asked by BBC Sport if the club were in a battle to avoid the drop, Amorim said: "I think that it is a possibility. We have to be clear with our fans."
United were last relegated from the top flight 50 years ago, at the end of the 1973-74 season.
The landscape in English football is vastly different now given the financial muscle of teams at the top.