MANCHESTER UNITED take on Rosenborg today in the first of their pre-season friendly clashes.
Erik Ten Hag’s side will want to put a marker down early in the summer as they prepare for the new Premier League season which begins in a month.
Rosenborg 0-0 Man Utd
7. Casemiro is captaining the side today.
While the veteran midfielder will feel he has nothing to prove as his football CV shows he has won nearly all there is to be, he was well below the expected levels last term.
As a result of last season’s performance as a whole, there are so many players who need to prove their worth.
Rosenborg 0-0 Man Utd
5. Rosenborg are getting stuck into the tackles early doors.
Mount goes to ground and the referee awards a free kick.
He will be looking to have a big season this campaign after a very disappointing start to his Man Utd career after a hefty transfer fee was spent on him.
Rosenborg 0-0 Man Utd
3. Mount looks to clear the ball but it gives it straight to the hosts.
Nypan tries a strike from outside the box but it is deflected wide for a corner.
Ceide meets the cross with a header but cannot keep it down as it sails over the crossbar.
Rosenborg 0-0 Man Utd
1. It will be a good test for Erik ten Hag’s side today.
The Norwegians are already 14 games into their domestic season.
Rosenborg will no doubt have much better fitness levels than their Premier League counterparts.
Kick-off: Rosenborg vs Man Utd
We are underway at the Lerkendal Stadion.
It is perfect weather in Norway on a bright, sunny evening.
Rosenborg get the game started.
Norwegian reds flocking for game
Man Utd have quite a large following in Scandinavia and it will be a full house at the Lerkendal Stadion today.
Many locals are arriving in their Red Devils tops, pleased to see their favourite team come to their home town to play.
It offers a chance to see some of their favourite players in the flesh as they kick-off their pre-season in Norway.
Credit: Getty Jonny be good for fans
Jonny Evans will have the chance to celebrate getting an extra year on his contract, starting with a run out in Norway.
The 36-year-old centre-back made the most appearances out of all the defenders at Old Trafford last season.
He will be looking to cement a regular first-team starting spot for the forthcoming season.
Familiar face, new job for striker
Ruud van Nistelrooy is about to take on his first match as the new assistant manager at Old Trafford.
Having been at the helm of PSV Eindhoven, van Nistelrooy resigned as manager with one game remaining in the season.
He cited a ‘lack of support’ for his decision.
Now he joins Erik ten Hag on the bench of a club who he enjoyed so much success with as a player.
Credit: Getty Rosenborg starting XI:
Top-scorer Ole Saeter starts for the Norwegians as they welcome the Red Devils this evening.
1. Tangvik, 32. Cornic, 38. Ceide, 21. Nemcik, 2. Reitan, 20. Tagseth, 10. Selnaes, 41. Nypan, 39. Broholm, 9. Saeter, 45. Sunde
Credit: @RBKfotball
Man Utd starting XI:
Erik ten Hag names a side which is a mix of youth and experience for their first pre-season outing.
1. Vitek, 2. Wan-Bissaka, 3. Murray, 4. Fish, 5. Evans, 7. Mount, 8. Hannibal, 9. Wheatley, 10. Rashford, 11. Williams, 18. Casemiro
Credit: @ManUtd Transfer window affected by pre-season games
While Erik ten Hag will have an idea of what additions he wants to make in the next month or so, these games provide the chance for youngsters.
They can stake a claim to be part of the first team squad for the forthcoming season.
Should players perform, it could save Man Utd a fortune in certain areas from having to venture into the transfer window once again.
Summer will have hurt Rashford
Having been excluded from Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024, Rashford will have found it difficult watching his teammates in Germany.
Fans will be hoping that he uses this as motivation to go out and show people what he is all about this season.
The forward was below the standards he has set himself as a Man Utd player and he will be looking to get back to his old ways.
Preparation is key for ten Hag
While many questioned whether the Dutchman would still be at the helm this season, having signed a contract extension, the hard work begins this evening.
It is integral for the Red Devils that they have a good pre-season to get ready for the start of the Premier League.
Their eighth placed finish last season was the worst Man Utd have experienced in the Premier League era and is not acceptable for a club of this size.
Welcome to Rosenborg vs Man Utd
With Euro 2024 over, attentions turn to the pre-season fixtures for the new season with Man Utd travelling to Norway to face Rosenborg.
The Red Devils will be without all the players who were involved in the Euros, with Altay Bayindir, Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo, Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw all unavailable for selection.
Lisandro Martinez and Alejandro Garnacho will also be absent due to their participation in the Copa America and Jadon Sancho will not be involved despite returning to first team training.
Marcus Rashford is expected to be starting in the game while Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jonny Evans, Casemiro and Mason Mount are also in the squad.
Tyrell Malacia is still working his way back from a serious knee injury so will miss out, while Mason Greenwood is close to securing a move away from Old Trafford.
Harry Maguire is still not fit to be involved while Andre Onana, Victor Lindelof, Amad Diallo and Antony have all remained in Manchester.
This gives youngsters such as Habeeb Ogunneye, Harry Amass, Toby Collyer and Ethan Wheatley the chance to impress the manager.
As for Rosenborg, Jonathan Augustinsson is out due to a thigh problem but other than that the Norwegian outfit are in strong shape for this game.
Head coach Johansson is expected to make full use of his squad but a strong starting XI is expected to take the field, including Ole Saeter, who has scored eight times this season.
Marius Broholm is expected to start, with the 19-year-old having netted five times in fifteen games already this season.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
