Manchester United face Rosenborg on Friday as Michael Carrick looks for a response to the 1-0 defeat against Wrexham. The Man Utd vs Rosenborg friendly will give the head coach another opportunity to assess his squad before the Premier League season.
The match takes place at the Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim on Friday, 24 July, with kick-off scheduled for 5pm BST. Supporters in the United Kingdom can watch the game live through MUTV.
United began their preparations with a narrow defeat in Helsinki. Sam Smith scored the only goal shortly before half-time, although Carrick prioritised fitness and gave minutes to several senior players.
Andrey Santos made his debut following his £48million move from Chelsea. The Brazilian showed encouraging signs in possession, but United struggled to create clear chances against Wrexham’s organised defence.
Man Utd vs Rosenborg team news and prediction
Benjamin Sesko is expected to remain unavailable because of the shin problem which disrupted the end of last season. New goalkeeper Karl Darlow is also unlikely to feature after undergoing a minor procedure before leaving Leeds United.
Carrick may again select two different teams across the two halves. Several players are returning at different stages following their involvement in the World Cup, so the United head coach will manage workloads carefully.
The defeat to Wrexham exposed attacking and midfield issues Carrick must address. United need to move the ball forward quicker and offer their striker more support around the penalty area.
Rosenborg should provide a stronger physical challenge. The Norwegian side are already midway through their domestic season and enter the friendly following consecutive 3-0 victories.
The Standard predicts an entertaining 2-2 draw, with Rosenborg expected to hold an advantage in match fitness.
United lost 1-0 on their previous visit to Rosenborg in 2024. Carrick will care more about progress than the result, but a sharper attacking performance would provide encouragement before the next stage of pre-season.
