Manchester United secured a 5-0 victory over Rosenborg in a pre-season friendly held in Trondheim, Norway. The match saw four academy prospects contribute goals, with manager Michael Carrick commending their performance. The win marked a strong response after a previous defeat to Wrexham.
The goal-scorers for Manchester United included Shea Lacey, Jacob Devaney, Harry Amass, and Ethan Williams. Additionally, Joshua Zirkzee added a solo goal to complete the scoring. Carrick expressed satisfaction with the young players, noting that they “deserved what they got” for their efforts.
Youth Prospects Shine
Shea Lacey, Jacob Devaney, and Harry Amass, all 19 years old, demonstrated their potential during the match. Lacey’s goal, in particular, was highlighted for its quality, as he found space and curled a shot into the far corner after operating in a hybrid number 10 role. Bryan Mbeumo played outside him for much of the game.
Devaney, who had previously received praise from Carrick following the Wrexham defeat, continued to impress. Playing in central defence, a position different from his preferred midfield role, he maintained an assured presence and scored with a first-time finish from a corner. Amass, after spending time on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich, appeared fully fit and scored United’s fourth goal by sliding in at the far post.
Carrick also praised 22-year-old goalkeeper Radek Vitek, who started the match and played for 71 minutes, keeping a clean sheet. Vitek, a 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.
Among the unused substitutes was 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, who was named the Premier League U18 Player of the Season last year. Carrick mentioned that the team defended well and protected the goalkeepers, stating that “clean sheets are a beautiful thing.”
Pre-Season Preparations and Squad Development
The pre-season friendly saw Manchester United managers, like many in the Premier League, managing without several regular starters who are recuperating after their participation in the FIFA World Cup. Despite this, Carrick expressed delight at how his academy products seized the opportunity to showcase their abilities.
The starting line-up for United featured a mix of first-team members and new signings, including Andrey Santos, alongside regular starters such as Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu, Luke Shaw, and Mason Mount. This match served as a recovery from a 1-0 defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki the previous week, where United also fielded a strong team.
Carrick took over as interim manager in January, replacing Ruben Amorim, and was later appointed permanently after guiding the team to a third-placed finish in the Premier League. He aims for a full pre-season to prepare his squad for challenges on multiple fronts. The club has already spent over £80 million this summer on new signings, including Santos and Youri Tielemans.
Manchester United is scheduled to travel to Stockholm to face Atletico Madrid next. Subsequent 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.
Source: tntsports.co.uk