Helsinki: Wrexham secure pre-season victory over Manchester United

By Brian Otieno — 18 July 2026 — 3 min read

Manchester United experienced a 1-0 defeat against Wrexham in their initial pre-season fixture held at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki. The match saw Andrey Santos make his debut for Michael Carrick’s side, following his recent transfer.

Santos, a Brazil midfielder, played for the first 45 minutes of the game. Carrick made extensive changes at half-time, substituting every player as his team was trailing. The second half featured academy players, including captain Tyler Fletcher, but they were unable to alter the scoreline.

Wrexham’s winning goal came six minutes before half-time, with Sam Smith scoring from a far-post tap-in. The goal occurred after a low ball from Lewis O’Brien, following a link-up with George Thomason, found its way through Harry Maguire’s legs to an unmarked Smith.

Despite the loss, Carrick highlighted some positive aspects from the match. He noted that the team had been back together for approximately 10 days and the primary focus was on getting through the game and identifying positives, acknowledging that perfection was not expected in the first pre-season outing. Carrick expressed satisfaction that all players emerged from the match in good condition, allowing the team to progress to their next fixture.

Carrick also commented on individual performances, mentioning that Mason Mount displayed promising moments and connected well with the team. He observed that Santos was settling into a rhythm and it was beneficial to see him on the pitch. The head coach anticipates the return of World Cup players soon, which will further strengthen the squad as the season approaches. He conveyed enthusiasm for the upcoming games, emphasizing continuous improvement and preparation for the start of the season.

The match provided a useful runout for Manchester United, with Carrick giving the first-team players who traveled to Finland the opening 45 minutes. This group included Santos, Maguire, Mount, Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu, and Bryan Mbeumo. The defeat is considered largely irrelevant by Carrick and his coaching staff, especially given that their opponents, Wrexham, are several weeks ahead in their pre-season preparations.

For Carrick, the more significant outcome was that his squad gained valuable playing time ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign, which is scheduled to begin on August 22 against Hull. The focus for both teams in this pre-season period is primarily on match sharpness and fitness.

Wrexham, who started their summer schedule with a scoreless draw against Wisła Kraków, aimed for another solid defensive performance in Helsinki. Their manager, Phil Parkinson, was expected to demand a strong showing from his side, even as the focus remained on fitness.

Parkinson’s approach to the game was anticipated to be similar to their previous friendly, with two largely different teams playing one half each. Wrexham is scheduled to face four Premier League opponents in their remaining summer friendlies, using these matches to assess the level required for their push for promotion from the Championship this season.

Several senior players returned to Wrexham’s squad for the match against Manchester United, including Dom Hyam and Nathan Broadhead. However, the team was still without Liberato Cacace and Josh Windass. The return of these key players was expected to boost the team’s performance.

The match also served as an opportunity for Wrexham’s center-backs to demonstrate their capabilities, especially with reports indicating the club was in discussions to sign Fiorentina defender Matías Moreno. This suggested Parkinson’s intent to strengthen his defense for the upcoming season.

Manchester United’s next pre-season fixture is against Rosenborg in Trondheim on July 24. Other upcoming matches include games against Atletico Madrid on August 1, PSG on August 8, Leeds on August 12, and AC Milan on August 15.

Source: skysports.com