The fifth manager to take charge of Manchester United since Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first game in charge displayed certain shades of the Scot's successful tenure.
Although tougher challenges lay ahead, Solskjaer's United were rampant in a 5-1 defeat of Cardiff City; the first time the club has managed to score as many goals in a Premier League tie since Ferguson's final game in charge five years ago.
Taking the lead through Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera doubled United's lead before a Victor Camarasa penalty gave Neil Warnock's side hope.
Unfortunately for Cardiff, Anthony Martial would finish off a great team move to make it 3-1, before Jesse Lingard added two further goals in the second-half.
Speaking to BT Sport in the aftermath of his first game in charge, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was keen to reiterate the calibre of players he was working with, and why all praise should stop with them.
"Football is easy if you have good players," Solskjaer stated in curious contrast to the public relations approach of his predecessor in the recent weeks and months.
"They are such a great bunch of players, and the quality is just unbelievable."
With only a number of days at the helm to his name, Solskjaer will unquestionably wish to temper the sense of excitement surrounding his arrival.
Questioned on what he had managed to impart by way of his influence on the team, the Norwegian didn't shy away from calling upon the principles he learned working under Ferguson.
"Be Man United, that's what I asked them for," Solskjaer admitted.
"It's been a tough week for them, [and] they're responded fantastically."
Alongside the impressive scoreline, there was a notable increase in the distance covered by United's players. For the first time this season, the team had managed to outrun their opponents.
Discussing this change, Solskjaer identified at least one fundamental instruction he had offered the squad.
"You know, I think that's the easiest thing in the world to work on, your work rate," Solskjaer stated.
"It's free, it's just attitude and the application of the boys.
"Because of the occasion, they do want to make a run or two more than normal, but when you have players like Martial and Rashford up top, they do run a lot.
"It's a great dressing room, and they're footballers [who] want to give their best for the club.
"They've got the Man United badge on their shirt and there's a reason for that.
"They're quality players and that's why they're at the club."
Having overseen this first test in spectacular fashion, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will now look forward to games against Huddersfield, Bournemouth and Newcastle United before meeting Reading in the FA Cup.
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