Ruud van Nistelrooy has lifted the lid on the depth of the crisis at Manchester United, admitting he has never known tougher times at Old Trafford.
In comments that, in more measured terms, echo captain Roy Keane's scathing criticism of his team-mates, the Dutch striker has revealed how morale has slumped in the United camp in the run-up to Sunday's showdown with Premiership leaders Chelsea.
"This must be the most difficult time I have known at the club," van Nistelrooy confessed.
"When I came here four and a half years ago it felt as though we were unbeatable. I remember games when I was having four or five chances, there was constant service, attack after attack. But things are different now, so different, and there's nothing I can do about it.
"We're not playing well. We have difficulty keeping the ball. We're not having flowing attacks. We don't play in the opponents' half, with crosses coming in, second balls won. We're not applying pressure on our opponents.
"Our confidence seems to be down. Sometimes we hold back when we have to go for it."
Unlike manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who has suggested United's fortunes will turn when they start taking more chances, van Nistelrooy did not appear convinced that the current squad would be able to turn their season around.
"It's what we all want. But the question is: how are we going to do it? We have to look at everything. Look at the squad, look at individuals, everything. Each of us knows within ourselves what needs to be done.
"But when you compare our squad with Chelsea, that says it all. Whether they play team one or team two, they are nearly all internationals who have been at World Cups.
"We just don't have that strength in depth. A lot of our experienced players are injured so there's a lot of pressure on the younger ones and, sure, we miss Gabriel Heinze, Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs. But that's not an excuse."
Van Nistelrooy also insisted that he had no problem with Keane's criticism of his team-mates, reportedly made in an interview with United's tv channel which the station was ordered not to broadcast.
"It's good to have people who say what they feel because they care about the club," he argued.
"When criticism is there you can either be angry or you can think about it and analyse whether or not it is true. If you can take something good out of it, then it can help.
"What I can say for certain is that the players are still together. Times like this make the team stick together even more. It's the natural reaction when a team is not doing well - to stick together."
Reports on Friday claimed that the now infamous Keane video had been shown to the United players. The club captain then reportedly addressed his team-mates for an hour and a half in a session not attended by Ferguson.
Whether the clear-the-air session has any impact on the pitch will be seen on Sunday, but there was at least some good news for United's supporters around the globe with van Nistelrooy insisting that he has no intention of leaving.
The Dutchman could take his pick from most of Europe's leading clubs and has been repeatedly targetted by Real Madrid in particular.
But he vowed: "I've committed myself to the club and now, in bad times, I want to give it my all to get United back where everybody wants to see us. I'm not going anywhere."
Former Celtic midfielder Liam Miller is however. The Ireland international was expected to sign for Championship club Leeds on loan on Friday having failed to make the grade at Old Trafford.