Under a grey Mancunian sky, Erik ten Hag became the sixth man in nine years to attempt to bring some sunshine back to Manchester United.
It will not be an easy task. The competition between modern Premier League heavyweights Liverpool and Manchester City has been built on a platform of previously unseen excellence.
United, meanwhile, have been allowed to plumb new modern depths.
Ten Hag was at Crystal Palace to see United lose on Sunday. He arrived in Manchester on Monday just as City were preparing to parade their fourth league title in five years though the centre of town.