Manchester United face Rosenborg in second pre-season game under Carrick
On Friday, 24 July, Manchester United play their second pre-season friendly against Norway’s Rosenborg. After stumbling against Wrexham in Helsinki, Michael Carrick is looking for tactical adjustments before the Premier League kicks off — and the Nordic clash comes at a strategic moment for the Old Trafford side.
A season of expectation after the Champions League return
The context is encouraging. In the 2025/26 edition, United finished on the Premier League podium and returned to the UEFA Champions League after a lacklustre spell. Carrick took over the club at a delicate stage and rebuilt the recovery brick by brick. Now, with the foundation consolidated, the stated goal is to fight for titles.
In the market, the club strengthened the midfield with Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. The departures were also significant: Casemiro and Jadon Sancho left the club as free agents, while Napoli exercised the buy option on Rasmus Højlund.
The opponent: active, but modest in the table
Rosenborg are Norway’s most decorated club, but they are going through an uneven cycle. In the last edition of the Norwegian championship, the team finished 11th out of 16 sides. This season, two recent wins lifted them to 10th place. The coach is Icelander Freyr Alexandersson, and the squad’s most valuable name is Amin Chiakha, who plays for the Algeria national team.
The history between the two clubs is sparse: friendlies in the 1970s and 1990s, and a reunion in July 2024, when the Norwegians won 1-0 with a goal from Noah Holm. It’s curious to recall that, despite the difference in level, that result went the way of the Scandinavians.
What to expect from the clash
Carrick is expected to field a team packed with youngsters, repeating the strategy of the previous game against Wrexham, when he used two completely different line-ups. Benjamin Šeško and goalkeeper Karl Darlow are still recovering and will sit out. The club hopes to have both available at the start of the official season.
The analysis of the fixture points to a balanced contest. United arrive with players back from holidays and low match rhythm, while Rosenborg are in full swing in their domestic calendar. This difference in physical readiness tends to offset, at least partly, the technical gap between the squads. Everything points to a draw — something around 2-2 would be no surprise.
