Erik ten Hag's calls for 'intensity' in Manchester United's pre-season clash with Rosenborg on Monday were completely ignored. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jonny Evans, Casemiro, Mason Mount and Marcus Rashford all started the game in Norway, where the Red Devils were beaten 1-0 by the side sitting 11th in the Eliteserien courtesy of a last-gasp goal.
Ten Hag will have hoped for a statement performance after being kept on by United's owners when it looked as though a change of manager was inevitable at the end of last campaign. Sweeping changes have been made to the Dutchman's coaching staff over the summer in an effort to boost his chances of success.
If Monday's performance is anything to go by, United have a lot of a sharpness to gain and a long way to go before they can think about fighting their way back into the Premier League's top four.
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Making his intentions clear before kick-off, Ten Hag told MUTV: "I want to see Man United's style: being hard to beat, intensity, giving yourself options." It seems as though he forgot to relay those words to the dressing room before his players delivered a flat performance at the Lerkendal Stadion.
Granted, Rosenborg are in the midst of their own domestic season while many United stars have only recently returned from holiday, so there was always going to be a difference in terms of sharpness. But Ten Hag will have been alarmed that the difference was so drastic.
Starting the game with Mount in a deeper-lying midfield role alongside Casemiro, and Hannibal Mejbri playing as the No.10, United looked to have fallen behind inside 10 minutes when Rosenborg put the ball in the net, before the offside flag came to Ten Hag's rescue.
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The crossbar was the next thing to bail United out, before an important save from stand-in goalkeeper Radek Vitek. The 20-year-old's performance was a major positive on an otherwise discouraging evening for the Red Devils, and his reaction save onto the post in the second half was particularly eye-catching.
Mount was also heavily involved and showed flashes suggesting he could finally get out of first gear under Ten Hag this coming season. Whether that is in the deeper midfield role he assumed on Monday or further forward remains to be seen.
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He set up Ethan Wheatley towards the end of the first half, but the youngster's powerful shot was palmed to safety. No fewer than 10 changes were made at the break, with Toby Collyer taking the armband for the second half, but the tide never turned.
And United's concern was compounded when Noah Holm turned in with virtually the last kick of the game.
If 'intensity' was the main thing Ten Hag was looking for, he certainly didn't find it. With less than a month before United face Manchester City in the Community Shield, Monday served as a reminder that United's coaching team must get to work.
