Manchester United came out on top with a commanding 5-0 win in their second pre-season friendly of the summer, bouncing back from their opening summer defeat to Wrexham. Michael Carrick took his men to Trondheim, in central Norway, to take on Rosenborg, who are already in season-rhythm, albeit they did just have the World Cup break. Rosenborg are currently sat mid-table in the Norwegian top flight.
Carrick put out a strong starting team, but as ever during this early summer stage, made plenty of changes to his side along the way, beginning at half-time, with United having already established a lead.
Trondheim
Who played for Man Utd vs Rosenborg?
Harry Maguire
The starting lineup included wantaway goalkeeper Radek Vitek, who also played against Wrexham, and the defence featured Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven. In midfield were Mason Mount, new boy Andrey Santos, with Patrick Dorgu and Shea Lacey on the wings, while Bryan Mbeumo and Joshua Zirkzee led the attack.
The bench featured Tom Heaton, Dermot Mee, Harry Amass, Dan Armer, Jayden Kamason, Toby Collyer, Jacob Devaney, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, Dan Gore, Jim Thwaites, JJ Gabriel, Chido Obi, Ethan Williams.
Shaw and Maguire were replaced by Amass and Kamason at half-time, and in the 62 minute, Armer, Devaney, T. Fletcher, Gore, J. Fletcher, Collyer, Williams, Obi all came on. replacing the remaining starters with the exception of Vitek in goal. Heaton, Gabriel and Thwaites were the only unused substitutes.
What happened during Rosenborg vs Man Utd?
Joshua Zirkzee celebrating after scoring for Manchester United against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League
Debuting their new blue away kit, United took the lead in the 31st minute with Shea Lacey latching onto a superb through ball before dummying inside and curling a short into the far left corner. The Red Devils almost made it two when Yoro rose highest to head a free-kick goalwards, but his header crashed off the bar and behind.
Joshua Zirkzee made it two in the 56th minute when he played a nice one-two with Amas before beating a couple of defenders and making easy work of the keeper, sitting him down with a neat stepover and rolling home.
United made is three seven minutes after the Zirkzee goal, when Devaney tucked away a short-range effort, blasting high into the net following a corner that dropped in front of the keeper. The fourth came when Kamason bolted to the byline and delivered a firm low cross to the back post, where Amas tucked home.
Ethan Williams made it five six minutes from time when Kamason beat his man to continue a fine performance with a second assist, crossing for Williams to tuck home from close range.
What will the Rosenborg win mean for Michael Carrick's men this season?
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick looks on after Premier League win against Nottingham Forest
Above all, this was a good chance for Carrick's men to get more fitness in their legs, and the win is a cherry on top. It will be good for some of the young players to get some minutes in, too, and among more senior players. Some players will have impressed Carrick, and even if they know they are likely to return to the youth ranks when more senior players return from holidays, it is a great chance to put themselves in Carrick's thoughts, be it for this season or the future.
That is what pre-season is all about, but it's not just about the kids, and players like Zirkzee will be pleased to get on the scoresheet, with the forward likely hoping to put himself in the shop window ahead of a potential move this summer.
It will be interesting to see how the United squad evolves over the course of the summer, with more new signings expected to arrive, more players expected to leave and a large group still to return from holidays following the World Cup, albeit at different dates.
Next up for Carrick's men is a date with Atletico Madrid on August 1, and then it's on to a date with the Champions League winners PSG a week later.
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