"Key Takeaways from Man Utd's Victory Over Rosenborg: Insights on Joshua Zirkzee and the New 'Carrick Ball'"

MANCHESTER UNITED picked up their first pre-season win with a 5-0 thumping victory over Rosenborg at the sunny Lerkendal Stadium.

Bouncing back from their defeat to Wrexham six days earlier, Michael — packed with stellar individual displays and a clear tactical revolution.

Michael Carrick earned a first pre-season victory with United Credit: Getty Mason Mount continued to shine in a different role Credit: Getty

United well and truly dusted off the pre-season cobwebs against a match-fit Rosenborg side who find themselves embroiled in a relegation scrap 13 games into their domestic season.

Back in 2024, was left fuming after a youthful United team featuring slumped to a grim 1-0 defeat on this very pitch.

Fast forward to now, and was left purring over a series of “fantastic goals.”

SunSport brings you three things we learnt from without the World Cup players.

Distinct change in ‘Carrick-ball’

There has been more of a focus on controlling possession, dictating tempo and suffocating sides in their own half in United’s first two pre-season matches.

The midfield pivot of and Andrey Santos showed this best, by controlling the rhythm and building phase by phase until Rosenborg retreated.

Front man and No10 Shea Lacey, with no and Bruno Fernandes in Trondheim, were then responsible for picking up spaces that could be found by line-breaking passes played from midfield.

Carrick’s initial revival was built on rapid counter-attacks—powered by the pace of and and the magic of Fernandes and .

Fans can expect more of Carrick’s slow, methodical build-up next season Credit: Getty United have not ruled out ending the window without a third midfielder Credit: Getty

Fans can expect more of Carrick’s slow, methodical build-up next season. But transitions will of course stay, that’s in United’s ‘DNA‘.

Mount shines

Mount has spent the majority of career further forward, but Carrick clearly likes him as a No8.

Off the ball, Mount was unleashed to join the front four press, while Santos held down the fort behind him as a true No.6 enforcer.

Carrick was keen to keep Mount, United have rebuffed inquiries around him and the 27-year-old could impact what the club do in the lead up to deadline day.

United have not ruled out ending the window without a third midfielder, despite ‘s nine-month injury diagnosis

Of course, Mount’s biggest battle is against himself.

He must stay fit in a make-or-break season at United as Youri Tielemans arrives from Aston Villa.

Joshua Zirkzee warms up ahead of the pre-season friendly v Rosenborg Credit: Getty

Two academy stars ready to deliver at Old Trafford

While senior figures controlled early proceedings, United’s academy stars seized the spotlight.

Shea Lacey, 19, grabbed the opportunity with both hands, setting the tone with his trademark goal, cutting in from the right and finishing with his left.

It’s increasingly likely that Lacey will be handed chances to score his first ‘real’ competitive goal at this season.

What if Lacey hadn’t been sent off in the closing seconds of January’s FA Cup heartbreaker against Brighton? We’ll never know.

But the dismissal halted the youngster’s momentum—just days after he had set Turf Moor ablaze with a sensational long-range effort that smashed off the bar in a 2-2 thriller.

Following a wave of second-half changes, Jacob Devaney, Harry Amass, and Ethan Williams all added their names to the scoresheet, buoyed by dynamic wide play from Jaydan Kamason.

Full-back Amass has been waiting for his turn for more than two years.

Many thought Amass would have been given a chance to impress under , who thought he had room to grow.

He since enjoyed an impressive six-month loan with last season before a hamstring injury ended his Norwich loan in January.

Zirkzee’s future

Joshua Zirkzee’s special goal and skilful assist were the highlights of the match.

Fans were in awe but it’s not likely to revive his United career.

The pace of the game played to his strengths and it does nothing to prevent questions over whether he can handle the pace of English football.

Sesko seems more equipped to lead the line.

By dropping deep and acting as the focal point in Trondheim, he gave a clear blueprint of how Carrick intends to handle the Slovenian once he is back in action.