Four minutes. That was all it took for Old Trafford to descend into a cacophony of condemnation.

As Aston Villa raced to a two-goal lead, chants of ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’ echoed around the stadium. Diogo Dalot was later singled out for criticism, earning a chorus of boos as he left the pitch, a fate similar to Joshua Zirkzee's against Newcastle two seasons ago.

Yet, in the second half, the mood changed dramatically. Supporters repeatedly sang ‘Football Taught by Matt Busby’ in a defiant show of support.

It was a striking contradiction. A fanbase seemingly turning against its own players while remaining fiercely protective of the club’s identity. Have United supporters begun to turn against their own traditions?

Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United thrived on an ‘us against the world’ mentality. His famous siege mentality brought players, supporters and manager together, creating a sense of unity central to United’s success.

Ferguson was a master at turning criticism into motivation. Whether it came from rival supporters, the media or opposition managers, United often relished being the team everybody wanted to beat.

Now, some of that hostility appears to have turned inwards. With United languishing in the relegation zone, the boos aimed at Dalot raise questions about the relationship between players and supporters. Whatever happened to ‘Manchester United, Manchester United, we’ll support you evermore’?

Old Trafford, though, even under Ferguson, players were not immune to criticism. The difference now is the scale of United’s decline and the frustration that has built up over the years to what now feels like a breaking point.

Of course it is. Years of disappointment, poor recruitment and falling standards have left supporters watching a club that barely resembles the one they once knew.

The discontent has been impossible to ignore. Green and gold balloons have filled the Stretford End, while banners aimed at the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have made supporters’ feelings clear. For matchgoing fans spending their hard-earned money following United, frustration is hardly surprising.

But there is a difference between booing a team collectively and singling out individuals. Dalot’s performances are open to criticism, but making him the target of thousands risks turning him into a scapegoat for problems that go far beyond one player.

The real source of supporters’ frustration lies beyond the pitch. Years of Glazer mismanagement, compounded by questionable decisions under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have left United in this predicament.

Managers have changed, millions have been spent, and standards have kept slipping, but one thing remains constant: the hierarchy. The players may bear the brunt of the criticism, but those in the boardroom cannot escape their share of the blame.