Erik ten Hag was proved right in Manchester United friendly vs Rosenborg

Manchester United have played in Norway in five of their last six pre-season schedules and the organisers may want to reconsider that jaunt for next summer's schedule.

Five members of the 25-man United squad were senior players and it showed in a sterile friendly that sounded about as atmospheric as a Sunday league game. United ambassador Ronny Johnsen went off-message during MUTV's coverage when he commented on how quiet the atmosphere was. Such is the enthusiasm of United's Nordic following, it was a 21,000 sell-out at the Lerkendal Stadium.

The referee's refusal to put everyone out of their misery and add three minutes of stoppage time did at least yield a goal in the 93rd-minute winner from Rosenborg substitute Noah Emmanuel Jean Holm. That was the least the dominant hosts merited against a hotchpotch United. "The performance was below standards," Erik ten Hag admitted.

The Norwegian contingent of United's support did not expect European Championship or Copa America participants but would have anticipated the presence of Andre Onana, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Antony and Amad.

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That quintet was back at Carrington. Steve McClaren, not in Norway, is on crutches after a foot operation, so the training back at base will have been minimal. United could at least have fielded a five-a-side team in the local power league.

Back in Norway, Ten Hag learnt little. He did not say that, of course. Jose Mourinho was not shy in dismissing friendly matches with shadow squads and this was a particularly pointless excursion.

Not for everyone, though. Radek Vitek was exceptional in goal, Ethan Wheatley was one of the few