Manchester United secured a decisive 5-0 victory against Rosenborg in a pre-season friendly held in Trondheim, Norway. The match saw four academy prospects contribute goals, with Shea Lacey, Jacob Devaney, Harry Amass, and Ethan Williams all finding the net. Joshua Zirkzee also scored a solo goal, marking a strong rebound for United following their previous defeat to Wrexham.
Manager Michael Carrick praised the young players, stating they were “fantastic” and “deserved what they got.” He highlighted their team play and the quality of some of the goals scored. Carrick also expressed satisfaction with the clean sheet, noting that the team is “moving forward nicely.” The friendly served as an opportunity for younger players to impress, especially with several regular starters recuperating after their participation in the FIFA World Cup.
Youth prospects shine
Among the standout performers were Shea Lacey, Jacob Devaney, and Harry Amass, all noted for their contributions. Lacey’s goal, scored after he found space and drifted in from the right while playing in a hybrid number 10 role, was particularly eye-catching. His shot curled into the far corner, demonstrating notable class. Bryan Mbeumo played outside him during the match.
Devaney, who received praise from Carrick after the earlier defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki, once again delivered an assured performance. Despite playing in central defence rather than his preferred midfield position, he scored with an instinctive first-time finish following a corner. Amass, who had a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday and later joined Norwich before an injury, appeared fully fit. He converted United’s fourth goal by sliding in at the far post, further staking his claim for a role as a back-up to Luke Shaw.
Another player who earned commendation from Carrick was 22-year-old goalkeeper Radek Vitek. Vitek started the match and played for 71 minutes, contributing to the clean sheet. The Czech shot-stopper has yet to make a competitive appearance for United, having spent the last three seasons on loan at Accrington Stanley, Blau-Weiss Linz, and Bristol City. He was deputising for Senne Lammens, who was involved in the World Cup with Belgium, reaching the quarter-final stage.
Pre-season preparations and upcoming fixtures
Manchester United’s early start to their pre-season schedule, ahead of other ‘Big Six‘ rivals, allows for extensive preparation. While the result against Rosenborg, who are currently 10th in the Eliteserien, should be viewed in context, Carrick’s starting line-up featured a mix of first-team members and new talent. This included new signing Andrey Santos, alongside regular starters such as Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu, Luke Shaw, and Mason Mount.
The victory also served as a recovery from the 1-0 defeat to Wrexham, a match in which United had fielded a strong team. Carrick, who took over as interim manager in January to replace Ruben Amorim and was later appointed permanently after guiding the team to a third-placed finish from seventh, is keen to make the most of a full pre-season. The club has already invested over £80 million this summer on players like Santos and Youri Tielemans, as Carrick aims to strengthen the squad for challenges across multiple competitions.
Looking ahead, United are scheduled to travel to Stockholm to face Atletico Madrid. Further fixtures include matches against Paris Saint-Germain, Leeds, and AC Milan. Their Premier League campaign is set to commence on Saturday, August 22, against newly-promoted Hull City, followed by clashes with Ipswich, Everton, Manchester City, and Fulham before the international break.
Among the unused substitutes in the Rosenborg match was 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, who has been a notable talent in the youth setup, having been named the Premier League U18 Player of the Season last year.
Source: tntsports.co.uk
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Charlie Bradshaw is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with ten years of reporting experience. He covered Merseyside football before going national. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Liverpool John Moores University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Liverpool, he watches non-league sides and collects old match programmes. “The back page is only ever half the story.”