Manchester United concluded their pre-season schedule with a 4-2 defeat against AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland. The match saw Michael Carrick’s side take the lead twice before ultimately falling to a strong Milan performance, led by former United boss Ruben Amorim. This result comes just a week before United’s Premier League opener against Hull City.
Despite the loss, the game marked the first pre-season appearances for Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, and Lisandro Martinez. Bruno Fernandes, the team captain, and Youri Tielemans played the entire 90 minutes. While there were no new injury concerns reported, Mason Mount has been sidelined for almost three games due to a foot issue that was initially considered a precaution.
Match Highlights and Key Moments
Manchester United started strongly, with Harry Maguire opening the scoring in the second minute from a Bruno Fernandes corner. Amad Diallo nearly doubled the lead shortly after. However, AC Milan equalised when Goncalo Ramos set up Samuel Chukwueze for a tap-in, following a save by Senne Lammens from Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s effort.
United had an opportunity to regain the lead before halftime, but Fernandes’ penalty was saved. In the second half, Patrick Dorgu capitalised on a loose back-pass from Filippo Terracciano to restore United’s advantage. However, Milan quickly responded, with Alphadjo Cisse levelling the score after Chukwueze’s play on the right flank. Ramos then put Milan ahead for the first time with a header from Chukwueze’s cross, and Loftus-Cheek sealed the 4-2 victory after a run down the right.
Michael Carrick expressed his disappointment after the match, stating, “We are disappointed with today. We didn’t play very well. There are no excuses.” He acknowledged that some players were getting their first minutes of pre-season, but maintained that the team is ready for the upcoming Premier League season.
Rashford’s Return and Squad Assessment
The match also featured the return of Marcus Rashford, who made his first appearance for Manchester United in 20 months, coming on as one of six substitutes after an hour of play. This was his first game for his boyhood club since a Europa League fixture against Viktoria Plzen in 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 it was not a permanent assignment. His reintroduction was described as solid, with a notable moment where he beat an opponent by the corner flag, drawing a positive reaction from the crowd. Carrick had opportunities to comment on Rashford’s future earlier in the week but did not confirm if he would remain at the club beyond the current month.
The game highlighted some defensive vulnerabilities for United, particularly when AC Milan switched play to the right, leaving Luke Shaw with too much ground to cover. The gaps between defence and midfield, while not large, were not adequately covered. The inexperience of recent signing Andrey Santos was also noted during the match.
Despite the defeat, Carrick remains optimistic about the squad. He mentioned that there have been positives in pre-season, including the emergence of Andrey Santos and the promise of a new-look midfield with Youri Tielemans still settling in. However, the performance against Milan raised questions about the readiness of some players, especially with the Premier League season approaching. United’s next fixture is their Premier League opener away to Hull City.
The transfer deadline on 1 September will bring more clarity to the uncertain situation surrounding some players. Carrick has another week of training to prepare the team for the first league game of the season.
Manchester United’s pre-season results included a 0-1 loss to Wrexham on July 18, a 5-0 win against Rosenborg on July 24, a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid on August 1, a 1-1 draw with PSG on August 8, and a 1-1 draw (4-5 on penalties) against Leeds on August 12, before the 2-4 defeat to AC Milan on August 15.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Ama Serwah
Yaw Appiah
Evelyn Mensah
Kwame Ofori