Nobody would have expected homages to David Bowie and Manfred Mann at a Europa League tie, least of all Mason Greenwood and Axel Tuanzebe. You suspect the Manchester United academy graduates have at least heard of Bowie. They would probably have to Google 'Manfred Mann'.
It was the 60s British band's Do Wah Diddy Diddy that United supporters chanted Tuanzebe's name to: "Tuanzebe-diddy-dumdiddy-doo, Axel, Axel". You might know the tune, if not the song or the band.
Paul Pogba has still not got a chant. David Beckham had to settle with 'There's only one David Beckham' and Rio Ferdinand's Christian name was just chanted repeatedly. Greenwood and Tuanzebe are the latest additions to the teeming opus of United songs.
Of the five academy starters against Astana, the pair were the standout performers. Greenwood settled an unconvincing win though Solskjaer also reserved praise for Tuanzebe in the Old Trafford press room afterwards. "Axel was very assured out there. He was in cruise control as well. Delighted for him.
"It's a few years since he played for us here at Old Trafford, and he played really well and just confirmed what we already thought we knew." Solskjaer said Greenwood, Tuanzebe and Fred are the trio 'knocking on the door to be in from the start' in Premier League games.
Tuanzebe is assured of a squad place at West Ham as the third-choice centre half and a start against his hometown club Rochdale on Wednesday is inevitable. He is unfortunate Victor Lindelof regained form and mollified Jamie Vardy last week.
In a serene first start of the campaign, Tuanzebe recorded a 96 per cent passing accuracy (behind Phil Jones and Nemanja Matic) against Astana, completed two successful dribbles and won 72 per cent of his duels. The passing stat is proof of how misleading (or worthless) such figures are, given Matic was risk-aversive and Jones largely untroubled.
The significant action was the sole touch Tuanzebe had in his own area in the 91st minute. He kept goal side of his marker and cleared Antonio Rukavina's centre to prevent a near-certain Astana equaliser and spare United embarrassment.
Re-watch the clip and Tuanzebe's eye-hand coordination is similar to a basketball player; he is fully aware of his man's whereabouts and where the full-back intends to aim the cross. Tuanzebe dashes to the near post a split-second quicker than the Astana striker and slides in to divert the ball away. That was the only interception or clearance he had to make.
Back when Tuanzebe was in the Under-21s, he was the ice to RoShaun Williams's fire. His ball-playing prowess was patent as a teenager and that positivity was evident in the Europa League - Fred was his most frequent recipient - and Tuanzebe's average positioning was on the halfway line.
It is easy to forget Tuanzebe was the first of the new batch of youngsters to be given matchday exposure in Louis van Gaal's second season. A week before Cameron Borthwick-Jackson debuted and three weeks prior to Marcus Rashford's first bench berth, Tuanzebe was in the away dugout at Selhurst Park for a goalless draw in October 2015.
Thursday night marked his maiden United start in a central defensive partnership, a whole three years, 10 months and 12 days on from that afternoon in Croydon. Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett debuted, signed contracts and left United within two years. Both still have more United starts to their name than Tuanzebe.
Though not for long. However unfortunate Chris Smalling was to leave ahead of his peers, the ascension of Tuanzebe in the central defensive pecking order was overdue.
In his previous start for United at Swansea in October 2017, Tuanzebe outperformed a timid Victor Lindelof on his first appearance of the campaign, only he was afforded 19 more minutes of playing time before a first loan spell with Aston Villa.
For a talent with just six starts to his name, Tuanzebe has tallied an impressive number of ringing endorsements; promotion under Van Gaal, approval from Mourinho ("Sometimes one minute is enough. With Axel, 10 minutes is enough! The potential is there, you see it immediately") and Solskjaer ("We know he's going to be a big, big part of this club in the future").
Old Trafford will be hearing more of Manfred Mann.
