Manchester United scored five goals against Rosenborg in a pre-season friendly, and the RBK manager has defended his team after they were heavily beaten by the Red Devils.
While United are preparing for a new season in England, the Norwegian top flight is already in full swing. The friendly had been planned for this period, but the timing created a difficult situation for Rosenborg, who are currently focused on important league commitments.
Rosenborg explain difficult timing
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Rosenborg were only days away from a league match, meaning the friendly against United came during a busy period of their campaign. Although facing such a strong opponent can provide valuable experience, manager Freyr Alexandersson believes the timing affected the performance of his players.
Many people may argue that playing a major friendly during the season can help a team prepare and improve, but Alexandersson must also consider the risks involved. The manager will not want his players to suffer injuries while competing against United and trying to impress in the match.
Manager accepts result as preparation
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Despite the heavy defeat, Alexandersson remains focused on using the experience as preparation. He understands that facing a team of Manchester United’s quality provides an opportunity for his players to learn, even if the result was disappointing.
As reported by [Dagbladet](https://www.dagbladet.no/sport/etter-united-ydmykelsen-ikke-optimalt/84940931), Alexandersson said: “It’s not optimal, but we made the best of it. That result costs money, but we have to do it this way and take it as training.”
The Rosenborg manager believes the match was part of their preparation process and that the team must accept the circumstances surrounding the fixture. The result may not have been what they wanted, but the experience could still provide benefits as they continue their season.
Rosenborg will now turn their attention back to competitive football and look to recover from the defeat. Alexandersson remains aware that the match was challenging, but he believes his players can take lessons from the experience and use them in their upcoming fixtures.