Manchester United started their summer schedule with a 1-0 defeat to Rosenborg in their first pre-season friendly on Monday night.
Erik ten Hag named his strongest available side from the off, with Casemiro and Mason Mount starting together in central midfield and Marcus Rashford in attack.
Rosenborg were the better side throughout the first-half, with young goalkeeper Radek Vitek forced into a couple of important saves to keep his side level heading into the break, while the Norwegian side also hit the crossbar and the post. Ethan Wheatley enjoyed the best chance of the half for United when he latched onto a pass and fired straight at the ‘keeper.
It was largely what you’d expect from the first match of pre-season, with United’s players clearly lacking match sharpness against a side who are already 15 matches into their own league campaign.
Ten Hag made wholesale changes at half-time when he changed his entire outfield selection, with Vitek the only player staying on the pitch. Rosenborg continued to dominate after the restart, with Vitek once again the hero for United with a fine stop to deny them an opening goal.
Ethan Ennis was one of the brightest of the half-time changes and twice fired ferocious efforts at goal after excellent driving runs from the left wing.
Rosenborg were the better side throughout and got the win they deserved in the dying seconds of the match when they finally took the lead through Noah Holm.
Here is how the players rated:
21. Joe Hugill - 6
Had little service or support in the forward line but was selfless whenever he got the ball and brought others into the game. | Manchester United via Getty Images Photo: Manchester United via Getty Images