It is possible that this Tuesday evening may be a watershed moment in the short-term future of Manchester United, with one eye on Old Trafford and the other on the Johan Cruyff Arena, and two Champions League ties that are delectably and delicately poised.

For the contemporary United, who have been battered and bruised by the consequences from a dreadful derby defeat, it has been another grueling week. However, the time for nursing their wounds is passed. The outcome of the next two games might determine the overall success — or failure — of a season that had looked so promising at the start of the season.

If Manchester United fail to beat Tottenham tonight, securing a spot in the top four will become increasingly tough; if they lose that game and fall below Antonio Conte's side, any thoughts of regaining fourth place will be long gone by the time they play again. Then there's the second leg of the last 16 against Atletico Madrid, which will be the greatest European night at Old Trafford in three years and, if the week goes horribly, it could be the last for a time.

By Wednesday morning, if the jury is still considering Ralf Rangnick's interim tenure, the verdicts could be in. A second consecutive defeat for United would be the end of their season.

However, two positive results this week may at the very least demonstrate that Rangnick is still a capable pair of hands who is beginning to make some ground in his quest for the position beyond the end of the campaign.

The question now is who will take over as manager, and football director John Murtough stated earlier this month that a "thorough process" to hire a permanent manager this summer was underway. The two-and-a-half-week gap between Tuesday's game and Leicester City's visit on April 2 has been earmarked as a time for considerable growth.
Despite Chelsea's uncertainties over the short term, the possibility to speak with Thomas Tuchel may still present itself, especially given the attraction of Rangnick, a close friend and associate of his fellow German, remaining on as an advisor. While there have been some changes, the process has remained under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag.

The latest Champions League humiliation suffered by Paris St-Germain has harmed Pochettino's candidacy, but Ten Hag may improve his own chances by guiding Ajax to the quarter-finals of the competition this week.

On the same night that Manchester United will try to find a way past Diego Simeone's resolute Atletico Madrid, Ajax will be hoping to win in Amsterdam in order to get past Benfica, after drawing 2-2 in the first leg in Portugal.

It's no secret that Ajax's forward-thinking style of play and Ten Hag's ability to assemble another highly successful team after their 2018/19 squad was disbanded has earned him a large following. Ajax, despite their eye-catching successes in the group stages, are still being pushed hard by PSV Eindhoven domestically, and a loss in a last 16 fixture they were big favorites to win would be a significant blow.

The only way Manchester United can ignore Ajax is if the Dutch side can once again put on a polished and beautiful display in Europe. If PSG sacks manager Mauricio Pochettino, Ajax won't have a problem getting rid of Ten Hag.

There could be a better sense of where United stands following this week's events. After a week in which they reminded everyone of their quality, they might make the job easier and more appealing for whoever comes next if they return to the top four race and make it to the Champions League quarterfinals.

Manchester United want to have a better idea of who that man will be by the time they take on Leicester at Old Trafford on April 1. Although no games have been played in this extended stretch without a game, expect discussions to take place and what occurs this week and what happened in Madrid on Wednesday will surely influence the character of those conversations.