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Evening Standard

·24 July 2026

Evening Standard

·24 July 2026

Red Devils were aiming to move on from last week’s defeat

Manchester United cruised to a 5-0 win over Rosenborg to record the first victory of Michael Carrick’s tenure.

The Englishman was named the club’s permanent head coach this summer after a successful second spell as caretaker manager, having taken charge from Ruben Amorim, who was dismissed in January.

The former midfielder guided his old club back into the Champions League for the first time since 2023, after they ended last season in third place in the Premier League table.

He is now targeting a climb of two more places and the title, and he has received early backing in the transfer market with the arrivals of Andrey Santos from Chelsea, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, and goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer.

Goalscorer: Harry Amass

Getty

United were beaten 1-0 by Wrexham in their opening pre-season friendly last week, with former academy player and ex-Reading striker Sam Smith scoring the only goal in Helsinki, Finland.

Here, they were far too strong for a Rosenborg side short on quality.

United’s first-team players were given 60 minutes as they continue working up to a full 90, but it was the youngsters given a chance to impress who lit up Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim, Norway.

Shea Lacey got the scoring started with a tidy finish to put the visitors ahead at half-time, and Joshua Zirkzee produced the best goal of the lot with a slaloming run finished off in calm style.

Jacob Devaney hammered in from a corner for the third, before Harry Amass sneaked in at the far post to make it four.

Ethan Williams tapped in from close range to complete a much-improved second-half showing after a disjointed opening period.