Michael Carrick started the same midfield for the third game in a row as Man Utd cruised past Sabah in their first game in the Champions League.
Benjamin Sesko
Benjamin Sesko scored for United in their Champions League opener
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Michael Carrick is pleased with the understanding on show between Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans after starting them in midfield for the third game in a row.
Their blossoming partnership in the centre of the pitch came to a halt at half-time against Sabah, with United's 3-0 lead allowing Carrick to rest Tielemans and hand Mason Mount his first minutes of the season.
Mainoo also got a breather midway through the second half, with Andrey Santos coming on for the academy graduate, and while Carrick is pleased with all of his options in a new-look midfield, his first-choice partnership is becoming clearer.
"I think all four midfielders tonight, to be honest, I think carried on the same way," he said. "Obviously Mason coming on at half-time and Andrey. It was great to get Mason back on the pitch after missing a short period of time. And Andrey settled in fantastically well.
"Kobbie and Youri have played more minutes, and you can see the understanding. I think Youri settled in, and I thought he was really good tonight again.
"Kobbie's just been really consistent all the way through, so we've got really good options in there. It's good to see the understanding between all of them that we can call upon when we need to."
The midfield helped lay the platform for a resounding win but the forwards continue to fire in front of goal, with Benjamin Sesko starting his first game of the season and scoring for the second game in a row.
The Slovenian has been handled carefully after not featuring during pre-season with a shin injury he picked up towards the end of last season, but he is starting to find the form that he showed under Carrick in the second half of last term.
"He definitely offers a different kind of threat. I think that's kind of the beauty of it, that we know what Ben gives us," said Carrick.
"There's not many around that kind of give you what Ben does in terms of his physique, his physicality, playing on the last line, his speed to run in behind. He's a real threat.
"It's great to have him back at this level after working to get back fitness. A couple of goals and good performances, good minutes in him, so really pleased with the way he's gone."
Bryan Mbeumo didn't score against Sabah but had netted in the two previous Premier League games, while Matheus Cunha did score his first Champions League goal, and Carrick admits picking an attack is proving difficult at the moment.
"It's not an easy decision. Of course it's not, but it's definitely one I'd prefer to have goals in the team and for the boys to be playing well," he said.
"I think the understanding that they all have, that sometimes it's going to be a start, sometimes it's going to be finishing the game, and we need that within the group from game to game over the season.
"I've said it enough times, really, probably repeat myself, but to be able to call upon slightly different kind of things at different times. It's fantastic that they're all in good form and started so well."