Manchester United lost 1-0 against Rosenborg at the Lerkendal Stadion in their first pre-season friendly of the season.
United’s players reported back to Carrington for the start of pre-season training last Monday and just seven days later they were looking to put what they have been working on into practice. Manager Erik ten Hag traveled to Norway with a 25-man squad and changed his entire outfield side at half-time, only keeping goalkeeper Radek Vitek in the team from the XI that started.
Rosenborg are midway through their domestic season and their greater match sharpness was in evidence, with United’s goalkeeper denying them on several occasions. The hosts also hit the woodwork four times before a 92nd-minute winner earned a victory they had probably merited.
United now return to Carrington before Saturday’s fixture against Rangers at Murrayfield. That will be the second of five friendlies United will navigate their way through between now and the Community Shield clash with Manchester City at Wembley on August 10. After they face Rangers they fly out to the United States for their official pre-season tour and three more friendlies.
United hinted at a new era but biggest change is yet to arrive
There was a time earlier in the summer when it looked like this would be the dawn of a new era at Manchester United. It could have been Thomas Tuchel waving to his new public in Norway, or Jonny Evans baiting the press on his own goalline as Roberto De Zerbi instilled his radical ideas into the squad.
Instead, it was Erik ten Hag who took in the applause from the Norwegian reds who packed most of the Lerkendal Stadion. The Dutchman is a popular figure amongst United’s support, a position only enhanced by the final act of last season. The FA Cup final win against Manchester City just about kept him in a job.
And although he remains in the dugout, there is still the unmistakable whiff of change in the air. On the pitch, three new Dutch coaches strolled around conducting the pre-match warm-ups, including Ruud van Nistelrooy. In the stands, the team assembled by Sir Jim Ratcliffe to be the architects of United’s renaissance watched on. This was a first game in new roles for sporting director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox flanked them.
Change only goes so far, however. Ten Hag spent two weeks after the FA Cup final fearing a second trophy in as many seasons wouldn’t be enough to give him a third year. Tuchel and De Zerbi were both sounded out about taking his job, but Ten Hag remains, with a new coaching staff and a new football structure in place.
He will be under no illusions as to just how vast the improvements must be this term. Pre-season will be a vital time to instil a more complete style of play and iron out the issues that derailed the league campaign last term. Takeaways are difficult from the first friendly of the summer, but Ten Hag would have been buoyed by Mason Mount’s bright 45 minutes in a central midfield role in what looked a 4-3-3 in the first half.
United player ratings as Vitek brilliant and Casemiro sluggish
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Had little chance to get forward and couldn’t find passes into midfield when he had the ball, going backwards and sidewards too often. 5
Will Fish
A busy outing as Rosenborg dominated the first-half. Had to work hard to keep a lively attacking trio quiet. 6
Jonny Evans
Comfortable on the ball and defended solidly on his first appearance since signing a new contract. 6
Sam Murray
Gave the ball away to give Rosenborg an early chance and struggled to tie down the lively Marius Broholm. 5
Casemiro
Hacked down by Nemcik early on but had already scuffed a clearance and later robbed of possession on the edge of his own box. A sluggish beginning. 5
FULL-TIME! Rosenborg 1-0 United
That’s the final whistle here in Trondheim. Well done if you watched all 90 minutes of United’s opening pre-season friendly.
Radek Vitek was very impressive in between the sticks.
Half-time ratings
Here are your half-time ratings…
Vitek
Some excellent saves 9
Wan-Bissaka
Poor in possession 5
Fish
Busy 6
Evans
Comfortable 6
Murray
Gave ball away for a chance 5
Casemiro
Sluggish 5
Mount
Lively on the ball and off it 7
Hannibal
Twice fouled after quick feet 6
Williams
Struggled to get in the game 5
Rashford
Direct with the ball 6
Wheatley
Bright when on the ball 7
HALF-TIME! Rosenborg 0-0 United
That’s the whistle for half-time here – it’s not been a thriller for anyone watching.
