Manchester United concluded their pre-season schedule with a 4-2 defeat against AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland. This match saw the return of Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, and Lisandro Martinez to action. The result marks Ruben Amorim’s first victory as AC Milan manager, coming against his former club.
Michael Carrick’s side took the lead twice during the match. Harry Maguire opened the scoring early in the second minute, heading in from a Bruno Fernandes’ corner. Despite this early advantage, AC Milan equalised through Samuel Chukwueze, who tapped in after a save from Senne Lammens and an assist from Goncalo Ramos. United then missed an opportunity to regain the lead when Fernandes had a penalty saved by Lorenzo Torriani.
Patrick Dorgu restored United’s lead by capitalising on a misplaced back-pass from Filippo Terracciano. However, AC Milan quickly responded, with Alphadjo Cisse levelling the score. Ramos then put Milan ahead for the first time, nodding in from a Chukwueze cross. Ruben Loftus-Cheek extended Milan’s lead, making it 4-2 after advancing down the right flank. The match highlighted defensive vulnerabilities for United, particularly on their right side, where Luke Shaw reportedly had too much ground to cover without sufficient support.
Rashford’s Return and Squad Concerns
The match was notable for the return of several key players. Marcus Rashford made his first appearance for Manchester United in 20 months, coming on as one of six substitutes with an hour played. His last appearance for the club was against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on 12 December 2024, after which he was loaned out to Aston Villa and then Barcelona. Rashford wore the vacant number nine shirt, though club officials clarified this was not a permanent assignment. He received a positive reception from United supporters upon his introduction.
Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez also returned to action, easing back into fitness after their respective absences. Martinez is returning after his World Cup commitments. While Carrick stated there were no new injury concerns following the match, Mason Mount has been sidelined for almost three full games due to a foot issue that was initially considered a precaution. Skipper Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans played the entire 90 minutes of the match.
Carrick expressed disappointment with the team’s performance, stating, “We didn’t play very well. There are no excuses.” He acknowledged that some players were getting their first minutes of pre-season, contributing to the performance. Despite the defeat, Carrick maintained that the team is ready for the upcoming Premier League opener against Hull City, noting that the players would benefit from the match time.
Pre-season Overview and Upcoming Season
This defeat concluded Manchester United’s six-match pre-season schedule. Earlier results included a 0-1 loss to Wrexham, a 5-0 win against Rosenborg, a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid, a 1-1 draw with PSG, and a 1-1 draw (4-5 on penalties) against Leeds. While the pre-season had seen some positive developments, such as the emergence of Andrey Santos and the potential of a new-look midfield with Youri Tielemans, the loss to AC Milan highlighted areas needing improvement.
The gaps between defence and midfield were noted as not being adequately covered, and the inexperience of recent signing Andrey Santos was reportedly exposed. These issues will provide Carrick with considerations as the team prepares for the start of the Premier League season. The transfer window remains open until 1 September, which could bring further changes to the squad. The team will face Hull City in their Premier League opener, followed by a match against Ipswich.
Carrick emphasised the importance of the upcoming week of training to prepare for the league campaign. He noted that the first league game of the season brings a “whole different feeling” and expressed confidence that the team would be ready. The match against AC Milan saw Milan come from behind twice to secure their victory.
Source: bbc.co.uk