Manchester United concluded their pre-season schedule with a 4-2 defeat against AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland. The match saw Ruben Amorim’s Milan side come from behind twice to secure the victory, highlighting potential areas of concern for Michael Carrick’s team ahead of their Premier League opener.
Despite goals from Harry Maguire and Patrick Dorgu, United were unable to hold onto their leads. Maguire opened the scoring early in the second minute, heading in from a Bruno Fernandes’ corner. However, AC Milan equalised through Samuel Chukwueze after Goncalo Ramos set him up. Fernandes later had a penalty saved, preventing United from going into halftime with an advantage. Dorgu restored United’s lead by capitalising on a defensive error, but Alphadjo Cisse quickly levelled the score again. Ramos then put Milan ahead, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek sealed the win, scoring Milan’s fourth goal.
Rashford’s return and team concerns
The match marked the first pre-season appearances for Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, and Lisandro Martinez. Rashford’s return was particularly notable, as it was his first game for Manchester United since December 2024. He was introduced as one of six substitutes an hour into the game, wearing the number nine shirt. United officials clarified that the number nine shirt was not a permanent assignment. Rashford’s reintroduction was described as solid, with a positive reception from supporters.
Despite these returns, the defeat exposed some defensive vulnerabilities for United. AC Milan exploited space on the right flank, with Luke Shaw reportedly having too much ground to cover without adequate support. The gaps between defence and midfield, though not large, were not sufficiently covered. The performance also highlighted the inexperience of recent signing Andrey Santos.
Carrick’s assessment and upcoming season
Michael Carrick expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance. “We didn’t play very well. There are no excuses,” Carrick stated after the match. He acknowledged that the team needs to improve but maintained that they are ready for the upcoming Premier League season. Carrick noted that some players were getting their first minutes of pre-season, which contributed to the performance.
The pre-season period has seen some positives for Manchester United, including the emergence of Andrey Santos and the potential of the new-look midfield with Youri Tielemans. However, the defeat against AC Milan indicated that some players are not yet fully prepared for the intensity of the league campaign. Carrick has another week of training to prepare his squad for their first league game away to Hull City.
The transfer window remains open until 1 September, and the situation surrounding Marcus Rashford’s future could still evolve. Carrick had opportunities to comment on Rashford’s potential stay but did not confirm it. The upcoming Premier League fixtures against Hull and Ipswich are expected to provide further insight into Carrick’s plans and the team’s readiness.
United’s pre-season 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, before the 2-4 defeat to AC Milan.
The team’s focus now shifts to the start of the Premier League season, with the first league game scheduled for next weekend.
Source: bbc.com
