Pre-season games usually don't have any motivation for the top clubs to win the game. Yes, I agree that in this match both teams gave one hundred percent of their abilities. But this is not the first time a top team from the English league has lost to a mediocre team. I think Manchester United really made this a game to test a lot of different tactics. Rosenborg scored a goal late in the game so I think both teams played very well. But a defeat is still a defeat and Ten Hag also said that this was not the performance United should have.
If Ten Hag has started to realize this at Manchester United, of course he himself knows what he actually has to do before the season actually starts. Because in terms of time, it is still possible for Manchester United to make more evaluations and better strategies to be able to start next season as well as possible. And apart from that, losing in the pre-season match also didn't harm Manchester United even though it could make the mediocre team feel happy and enthusiastic enough to start next season in the Premier League.
Being a seasoned coach, ten Hag understands how to use the remaining time effectively in assessing his squad and refining strategies. However many losses in preseason matches, these games give ample opportunity for testing tactics, appraising player performance and improving team cohesion. To Manchester United, these preseason matches do not count on the official standings but can tell what they need to deal with when preparing for the Premier League season ahead. It is an opportunity for the team to identify areas that require improvement, try new formations or combinations of players and prepare well for competitive fixtures. Pre season results may affect morale; however, what matters most is using such games as learning experiences making sure that the group is adequately prepared before the beginning of this session. This is where Ten Hag’s experience and strategy will be needed by Manchester United to navigate through this phase of preparation.