Manchester United's preparations for the 2024-25 campaign will officially begin later this evening with a friendly against Norwegian side Rosenborg.
The Red Devils are gearing up for their Premier League opener against Fulham on August 16, while Rosenborg are well into their Eliteserien season, currently sitting eighth after 14 matches, according to a report by Sports Mole.
Seven weeks have passed since Man United concluded their 2023-24 campaign with a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final, a result that helped Erik ten Hag retain his position as head coach. The win also secured a place for United in the group stage of the 2024-25 Europa League, ensuring European football at Old Trafford next season despite finishing eighth in the Premier League.
The club is entering a new era under the leadership of INEOS, with a busy transfer window expected. Joshua Zirkzee's arrival was announced on Sunday, although he won't feature in the match against Rosenborg. United resumed pre-season training on July 6 and will participate in five friendlies this summer, including matches against Rangers, Arsenal, Real Betis, and Liverpool in the United States.
The 20-time English champions will also face Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 10, before their Premier League opener against Fulham on August 16. There will be considerable pressure on Ten Hag to improve on last season, with the Dutchman recently signing a 12-month extension. United will be aiming to start their pre-season with a strong performance in Trondheim on Monday night.
Rosenborg, currently eighth in the Eliteserien with 17 points, are 26-time Norwegian champions but are in a challenging period, having lost two of their last three matches, including a 4-1 defeat to Sarpsborg 08 on Friday. Despite this, the friendly against Man United is a significant event for the club. Rosenborg will return to league action against Lillestrom on July 21, a match deemed more crucial for their season.
This will be the first competitive fixture between the two teams, although they have met in friendlies before, with United winning 3-2 in 1992 and 8-0 in 1977.
Kickoff Time For The Game:
The game will commence at exactly 5 PM (West African Time).