Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has refused to use the opening pre-season game as an excuse for his team’s defeat to Norwegian side Rosenborg.
United’s starting line-up included Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, Mason Mount, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jonny Evans – but it was 20-year-old goalkeeper Radek Vitek who came away with credit in the 1-0 defeat.
The Czech goalkeeper made five excellent saves but was beaten by Noah Holm four minutes into stoppage time.
And in the first game since United triggered his one-year contract extension, Ten Hag was not happy.
“The result is not secondary,” he told MUTV. “We are in pre-season, but the norm at Manchester United is to win games. If you can’t win, you shouldn’t lose.
“This is not the standard for top football. Our performance today is not good enough. We are Manchester United and we must perform better.”
