David Moyes has not been convincing as the manager in the English Premier League so far, there is little doubt about that.
Come Tuesday, he will realize the magnitude of his task at Manchester United when he opens up his campaign in the Champions League with a tricky fixture against Bayer Leverkusen.
United were harshly dumped out of the Champions League last season when they fell to Real Madrid amid some controversy.
Now the feeling will be different around Old Trafford, though. Yes, they will still be expected to make it all the way and the sense of disappointment will be there if they fail to do so.
But that expectation will be tempered by the fact that United now have at the helm, not Sir Alex Ferguson, but Moyes, a man who is not exactly well versed the trials and tribulations that is European football.
As Ferguson himself found out many times, the Champions League is not the Premier League and you need to have a completely different mindset when you go out to play in Europe.
Leverkusen are far from pushovers and have made a bright start to the Bundesliga season, winning four of their first five matches for third place, just a point behind champions Bayern Munich.
In Sami Hyypia, Leverkusen have a manager well versed in the Premier League and indeed Manchester United, having played against them several times during his illustrious spell with Liverpool.
"I played my final 90 minutes as a Liverpool player here and we won 4-1," Hyypia said. "That day was special and I played well. United have big expectations this season and I think he (Moyes) is under more pressure than me.
"We can go into the game relaxed -- we need to enjoy it. We must respect our opponents, but not too much."
Moyes has been criticized this season for what has been perceived as negative tactics - United after all cannot play like the Scot's side did at Everton.
Robin Van Persie is yet to find his proper form and there is no better place than the first Champions League game of the season at Old Trafford to start hitting those stratospheric heights that he has in recent years.
The Dutchman and Wayne Rooney, on paper, is a startlingly scary partnership. However, the two have yet to quite find the understanding require to send a few shivers down the defenders' spines.
Moyes is hoping, and perhaps praying, that the two superstars strike it rich, both together and as individuals; because if they do that, then his job becomes much easier.
Being at home, it is about time this Moyes side go out and play some enterprising football, without some of the rigidity that has led to the criticism this season.
Let Rooney loose behind the main striker Van Persie, and maybe bring in Shinji Kagawa, who has alarmingly gone down the pecking order -- Kagawa is perfectly tailored for the European game and will know Leverkusen pretty well from his time with Borussia Dortmund.
Team News: Danny Welbeck is doubtful with a knee injury, while Phil Jones and Rafael are definitely ruled out.
Leverkusen have concerns over Lars Bender and Jens Hegeler, while Gonzalo Castro is out with a thigh injury.
Where to watch
The game is scheduled for a kickoff on Wednesday morning (12.15 am IST) with the match being telecast Live on Ten Sports.
Expected lineups: Manchester United: De Gea, Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Fellaini, Valencia, Rooney, Young, Van Persie.
Bayer Leverkusen: Leno, Hillbert, Wollscheid, Spahic, Boenisch, Reinartz, Castro, Rolfes, Sam, Son, Kieesling.
Prediction: 2-1 to United
