Man Utd’s Joshua Zirkzee blueprint and new ‘Carrick ball’ – what we learnt from Rosenborg win

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 Carrick’s men delivered a statement win — 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, Erik ten Hag was left fuming after a youthful United team featuring Marcus Rashford slumped to a grim 1-0 defeat on this very pitch. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! Fast forward to now, and Michael Carrick was left purring over a series of “fantastic goals.” SunSport brings you three things we learnt from United’s second preseason match 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 Mason Mount and Andrey Santos showed this best, by controlling the rhythm and building phase by phase until Rosenborg retreated. Front man Joshua Zirkzee and No10 Shea Lacey, with no Benjamin Sesko 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 Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu and the magic of Fernandes and Matheus Cunha. Most read in Sport 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 Manuel Ugarte‘s nine-month injury diagnosis following knee surgery. 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 Ticket + hotel room for Man Utd games GET tickets to see Man Utd at Old Trafford with our hand-picked deals. The packages include an official match ticket and an overnight stay in a nearby hotel. Man United Home Games⚽ 30 Aug v Ipswich — BOOK HERE⚽ 13 Sep v Manchester City — BOOK HERE⚽ 10 Oct v Tottenham Hotspur — BOOK HERE⚽ 24 Oct v Bournemouth — BOOK HERE⚽ 7 Nov v Aston Villa — BOOK HERE More games available here. *If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue. 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 Old Trafford 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 Ten Hag, who thought he had room to grow. He since enjoyed an impressive six-month loan with Sheffield Wednesday 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. Top football travel deals Comment now