Winning is the only cast-iron way to control the message in football. So after Ruben Amorim’s recent various rhetorical wrong turns this added-time, sixth victory of a chequered 16-game Manchester United reign was needed.

On 88 minutes it seemed very far from on as Harry Maguire missed a header, Cyriel Dessers stole in, and he equalised with aplomb.

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3 min: Garnacho dribbles in from the left, in the old-fashioned jinking Scottish style, and has a whack. Straight at Butland. Meanwhile up in the stand, the one-time Rangers starlet Alex Ferguson watches on.

2 min: United are immediately on the front foot. Garnacho and Dalot probe down the left. Then a look for the one-time Rangers starlet Diallo on the right. Rangers yet to have a significant touch.

A bit more time enjoying Hoffenheim’s hospitality and all of Tottenham’s problems probably would have faded away. After all Christian Ilzer’s clumsy side certainly seemed intent on doing everything in their power to ease Spurs back to good health here, defending so meekly that it would be wise not to conclude that Ange Postecoglou is out of the woods yet.

What to make of a topsy-turvy 3-2 victory over the team sitting fourth from bottom in the Bundesliga? The positive for an injury-hit Spurs is that they were stylish at first, cruising into a 2-0 lead with goals from the outstanding duo of James Maddison and Son Heung-min. They also saw off a fightback from Hoffenheim after half-time, Son securing the points, and were resilient enough to boost their chances of avoiding the hassle of a two-legged playoff for a place in the Europa League knockouts by surviving a nervy finale with five teenagers on at the end.

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1 min: Peeeep! Spurs get the game going.

Right then, all the preambles have been ambled and there’s nothing but a quick team huddle between us and kick-off.