Youngsters shine in pre-season friendly
Manchester United secured a 5-0 victory over Rosenborg in a pre-season friendly held in Trondheim, Norway. The match saw several academy prospects make a significant impact, with manager Michael Carrick praising their performances. Four young players found the back of the net, contributing to a strong rebound for the team after their recent loss to Wrexham.
Among the goal scorers were Shea Lacey, Jacob Devaney, Harry Amass, and Ethan Williams. Joshua Zirkzee also added a solo goal to complete the scoring. The performance highlighted the depth of talent within the club’s youth system, as many regular starters were unavailable due to their participation in the FIFA World Cup.
Individual performances catch the eye
Shea Lacey, who spent much of the game in a hybrid number 10 role with Bryan Mbeumo playing outside him, scored with a shot that curled into the far corner. His goal demonstrated a touch of class and an ability to find space effectively. Jacob Devaney, who had previously received praise from Michael Carrick after the Wrexham defeat, continued to impress. Playing in central defence, a position different from his preferred midfield role, Devaney showed an assured presence and scored with an instinctive first-time finish from a corner.
Harry Amass, who has noticeably developed physically over the past two years, also scored, converting at the far post for United‘s fourth goal. Amass had previously been on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and then Norwich, where he sustained an injury. His return to full fitness and goal-scoring contribution served as a reminder to Carrick of his potential as a back-up option to Luke Shaw.
Goalkeeper Radek Vitek, 22, also played a significant role, starting the match and keeping a clean sheet for 71 minutes. Vitek, who has spent the last three seasons on loan at Accrington Stanley, Blau-Weiss Linz, and Bristol City, is yet to make a competitive appearance for United. He was deputising for Senne Lammens, who was involved in the World Cup with Belgium.
Manager’s perspective and upcoming fixtures
Michael Carrick expressed his satisfaction with the young players, stating that they “deserved what they got” and were “fantastic.” He emphasised the importance of keeping players fit and progressing through pre-season, noting that the team’s performance, including some “fantastic” goals and a clean sheet, indicated positive movement. Carrick also highlighted the importance of players being in a confident mindset, which he sees as part of his role to cultivate.
The starting line-up against Rosenborg included several first-team members, such as new signing Andrey Santos, alongside regular players like Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu, Luke Shaw, and Mason Mount. This mix of experienced players and youth prospects contributed to the comprehensive victory.
Manchester United‘s pre-season schedule continues with a trip to Stockholm to face Atletico Madrid. Subsequent fixtures include matches against Paris Saint-Germain, Leeds, and AC Milan. The team will commence their Premier League campaign on Saturday, August 22, against newly-promoted Hull City, followed by clashes with Ipswich, Everton, Manchester City, and Fulham before the international break.
Carrick, who took over as interim manager in January and was later appointed permanently after guiding the team to a third-placed finish in the Premier League, has already invested over £80 million this summer in players like Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, as he aims to strengthen the squad for challenges across multiple competitions.
Source: bbc.co.uk