Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was convinced Manchester United players had the right mentality for their behind-closed-doors match with LASK Linz after the warm-up.
First-team coaches Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna oversee the first-team's warm-ups prior to matches and were bullish when they briefed Solskjaer. "It was easy because these players are very focused," Solskjaer said.
"They know what they want, so there was no doubt in my mind that they were going to do well. After the warm-up Kieran and Michael came up to me and said the warm-up was really, really good; focused. I have to praise them, they are very professional.
"It makes it easier to get the instructions on the pitch [in an empty stadium], but of course it's weird and it's a strange feeling. We are used to playing in front of fans and used to the best fans in the world helping the boys. We haven't practised this before.
"It's a weird one, I hope it doesn't happen too often, but I have to praise the boys again; the mentality was unbelievable, really. To be so focused to do a high-profile quality job."