A series of television camera cuts to the bench and the stands throughout Sunday afternoon's Manchester Derby rather told the story of the affair. Sir Alex Ferguson wore a glum expression. Cristiano Ronaldo had his head in his hands. Harry Maguire was frowning.
Meanwhile, Alfie Haaland, father of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, was jubilant, spotted joining in with the home fans performing their trademark Poznan celebration.
It was a familiar showcase - somewhat reminiscent of the now slightly infamous cut between a frowning Ferguson and beaming Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool dismantled United last term.
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But there was a difference this time. United didn't enter the game in any sort of rut. While they hadn't played a match in the competition for almost a month, they came into the fixture on the back of four successive Premier League victories, including against Liverpool and league-leaders Arsenal.
Erik ten Hag's decision to name the same starting side as in the four prior wins was hereby understandable. What came as a surprise was the extent to which a United outfit that had lately improved their resolve so significantly appeared started by City from the outset.
A mere 90 seconds into proceedings, Diogo Dalot picked up a booking for failing to control Jack Grealish and fouling the City man as he threatened to beat the United right-back. It was an encapsulation of City’s purposeful start up against the air of caution surrounding United, forcing Dalot into walking a tightrope for the remainder of the match.
And so, the precedent (a bad one from a United standpoint) was set from within the earliest knockings. United were immediately on the back foot. And, instead of finding a way to rectify this, they cowered and entered a passive mode.
It was down United's right side that City particularly gained joy from the first minute onwards when Dalot received a yellow card. And, after a frantic exchange in the United penalty area saw numerous blocks and a David De Gea save keep City at bay, United did succumb and fell behind after only eight minutes.
They were punished as Bernardo Silva was able to play a ball across from his left flank to Phil Foden, who arrived unmarked into the penalty area and produced an unsavable first-time finish. It was a goal that stemmed from too much space being left on United's right side for City to attack. Antony's attempt at pressing was frantic and left Cancelo free to find Silva, with Dalot finding his side overloaded. Additionally, the midfielders didn't pick up their runners and were bypassed easily in the meantime.
Ultimately, United were unravelled by crisp passing and sprightly movement that they were unable to keep up with.
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By the midway point of the opening period, on the opposite flank to Dalot, Tyrell Malacia had joined his fellow full-back in referee Michael Oliver's book. United's full-backs were having a particularly troubled time that largely epitomised the collective struggles of the side. And things didn't ease off, either.
While it did take just shy of half an hour for City to score again, United were constantly suffering against the relentless nature of their opposition. They were unable to establish any remote foothold in the match, with City sharper and holding the ball much better. United comparatively lacked much presence in midfield, finding themselves struggling to string together any sustained passing phases and holding possession for much shorter spells than their opposition.
City were actually without Rodri in midfield due to an injury, with Ilkay Gundogan forced to operate in the holding role - more unnatural to him thus promising an avenue of opportunity for United to exploit a possible vulnerability. In defence, summer signing Manuel Akanji partnered more sporadic option Nathan Ake, with possible scope to expose this too.
None of United's hopes came to fruition, however.
Instead, they were exploited by certain aspects regarded as possible vulnerabilities; City got the better of United in midfield, while Akanji and Ake were dominant presences both defensively and on the ball. It was United that were forced to defend staunchly as City created in consistent abundance.
And the staunch guard that United put up for a period ultimately didn't last. Haaland doubled City's lead with a headed goal from a corner shortly after the half-hour mark, finding his way free of Christian Eriksen (a mystifying marking mismatch) and leaping above Dalot and Scott McTominay before Malacia marginally failed to clear the ball off the goal-line.
All the while, Raphael Varane was on the sidelines with a knock that would see him withdrawn for Victor Lindelof. The diagnosis is an ankle sprain that shouldn't keep him out of action long-term, but it is typical of his luck with injuries that he survived the international break without any ailments only to pick up an issue as soon as he returns to club action.
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Haaland scoring City's second goal and Varane sustaining his injury really kickstarted a capitulation of sizeable proportions for United. A more respectable one-goal deficit turned to four in the space of only around 10 minutes at the end of the opening period as both Haaland shone and both him and Foden got on the scoresheet again.
Only three minutes after heading past De Gea, Haaland capitalised on an increasingly porous United defensive structure to confirm yet another brace. United's midfield was noticeably open, and City were allowed to carry the ball forward with Grealish who found Kevin de Bruyne in space. A remarkable pass from De Bruyne ensued, picking out Haaland's run to the back post. The Norweigien, who United had the opportunity to sign during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign, met the ball with a slide to finish.
It was a goal of the highest standards from City. De Bruyne showed excellent vision and his sensational technical ability to meet Haaland's run with distinct precision. Haaland, meanwhile, showed his almost otherworldly levels of intelligence and anticipation to find himself space inside the penalty area.
Things only crumbled further for United beyond this as Foden scored his second on the brink of half-time. This time, Haaland showed his value in build-up as he capped off another assured City attack with a pinpoint pass to Foden at the far post. It was a case of City always being a step ahead of United - they were able to carry the ball forward and drive United players out of shape, with Foden ahead of Malacia in order to reach the ball and beat De Gea.
It was the third time in the past year that United trailed 4-0 at half-time - already the second occasion this season after a similarly wretched opening 45 minutes against Brentford in August. They hadn't trailed by such a margin at the interval in any of the 29 years prior.
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The gulf in quality was scarily pronounced throughout the first half - an indictment of the vast amounts of work that United still have to do in their ongoing 'process' under Ten Hag. After all, City's first half dominance was to such an extent that goalkeeper Ederson made more passes and had more touches of the ball than any United player. Individuals were unable to make their mark for United where a number excelled for City.
It was a wake-up call for fans that they can't allow themselves to get too carried away. There have been some very good results and promising performances, but United still have to forge an identity more aligned with Ten Hag's desires rather than just playing to the strength of certain players.
There were questions surrounding effort levels from United's perspective, though this wasn't necessarily down to a lack of trying. The personnel on the pitch looked fearful of their opposition, with Ten Hag citing a lack of belief as the reason for a seeming absence of desire. "This is different to Brentford - that day we didn't run," Ten Hag insisted post-match. "Today we wanted to run but there was a lack of belief."
If nothing else, Ten Hag's suggestions definitely pointed towards improvements still being necessary on the mentality front.
United had their breath taken away by City, and they were shocked into submission by a side displaying marked superiority. They failed to get onto the front foot, which had a knock-on effect throughout the opening half. And, throughout, it was a theme that they lacked proactivity defensively and attacked in a passive manner.
At least, into the second half, they did show some mettle. There were some more passing exchanges compared to the first period, and they gained a reward for developing somewhat.
The attack had been very quiet, but Antony stepped up to the mark and beat Ederson from range after showing willingness to cut inside after an exquisite first touch following Christian Eriksen's switch of play. It was a curling effort from outside the box that encapsulated Antony's confident and hunger to invent.
Ten Hag didn't settle after the goal back either. His response epitomised his intent as he made a double substitution, with McTominay and Marcus Rashford withdrawn and Casemiro and Anthony Martial entering the fray. Malacia had already been replaced by Luke Shaw at the juncture following a difficult first half.
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For all that Ten Hag earned credit for his purpose in terms of making changes, United's improvements proved little more than momentary as City reestablished their groove. Within 10 minutes of United getting a goal back, Haaland secured his third consecutive home hat-trick. United were, again, undone by a slick passing passage combined with more intricate movement, with space impressively engineered within the final third. It was eventually a cross from Sergio Gomez that led to Haaland's third goal of the affair.
While United played their part with their somewhat submissive nature and some suspect organisation, the majority of goals conceded were testament to City's quality. However, United were definitely more culpable as City scored a sixth. It was a concession that painted the picture of their lack of proactivity and frequent lapses in awareness.
Shaw, whose impact off the bench in the second half was largely positive, was guilty of playing Foden onside. And, despite five United bodies standing compact around the edge of the penalty area, Haaland was able to routinely slot a pass into the box to Foden, who converted to become City's second hat-trick scorer of the encounter. It embodied United's inability to contain City's number of threats.
Afterwards, there did become signs that City took their foot off the gas to an extent. Pep Guardiola made a wrath of changes for rotation's sake, which did disrupt the rhythm of his side slightly.
Still, adding to Antony's goal, the cameo that Martial made off the bench on his return from injury was encouraging and offered something of a consolation for United.
An excellently-worked second goal from United saw City's leading margin reduced, with some patient, assured passing in the build-up troubling City. United used their left flank well as Shaw played Fred into a shooting area inside the 18-yard box. Fred's effort was saved, but Martial was alert to head the rebound past Ederson.
Martial then further proved a bright spark as he won a penalty with a spin turn inside the penalty area. He took the penalty and converted confidently to curtail City's lead to only three goals.
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They may have made a mini resurgence, but United 'winning the second half' is hardly something to revel in given the caveats that City made alterations and, predominantly, that they were outplayed in the crucial phases of the match.
Whenever those inside the Etihad feel comfortable enough to bring out the Poznan, it is not going to have been a good day. And Sunday was one of those days for United. One to forget.
But, as Ten Hag quite rightly made a point of saying, it isn't necessarily an indication of where United are in terms of their progress, more that they simply didn't know how to react against such high echelon opposition in such a rich vein of form (concerning in itself, mind).
City have dropped points this term, but they were absolutely formidable when it came to the derby. United may not have executed their gameplan, but they have shown ability to follow instructions this campaign and will no doubt work to rectify their shortcomings.
So long as no negative trend is established, the outcome against City shouldn't be, or be allowed to be, a huge concern for United. It might not come as a completely bad thing that Ten Hag may be encouraged to rejig his side, with the likes of Casemiro in contention to emerge as starters.
Sunday afternoon was one to forget, but this time in the literal sense of the cliche. It isn't a result worth dwelling on as Ten Hag continues to orchestrate the early stages of United's rebuild.
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