Manchester United concluded their pre-season preparations with a disappointing 4-2 defeat against Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland. The match served as a final tune-up for Michael Carrick’s side, who are set to open their Premier League campaign against newly promoted Hull City next Saturday. Despite taking the lead twice during the contest, United were ultimately undone by a clinical Milan performance.
The fixture marked a significant milestone for Marcus Rashford, who made his first appearance for the club since December 2024. Alongside Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez also saw their first minutes of the pre-season. While captain Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans completed the full 90 minutes, the team struggled to maintain defensive stability throughout the match.
Defensive vulnerabilities were a recurring theme, particularly when Milan shifted play to the right flank. Luke Shaw, who played the entire game, often found himself isolated without sufficient support to cover the width of the pitch. Furthermore, the gaps between the midfield and defensive lines were frequently exploited, and recent signing Andrey Santos appeared exposed at times, highlighting the inexperience that Carrick must address before the league season begins.
Milan’s scoring effort included three close-range goals, one of which drew complaints regarding a potential offside, though the absence of VAR meant the calls stood. Ruben Loftus-Cheek sealed the result by outpacing Martinez to score, a moment that underscored the defensive lapses on the day. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens was credited with preventing a more significant margin of defeat through several key interventions.
Regarding injury concerns, the squad appears largely healthy following a six-match summer schedule. Mason Mount remains the primary concern; the midfielder has missed nearly three full games due to a foot issue sustained in Gothenburg, which was initially deemed a minor precaution. Reflecting on the loss, Carrick acknowledged the team’s shortcomings in his post-match comments to MUTV. “We are disappointed with today,” he stated. “We didn’t play very well. There are no excuses.”
Just a week away from their Premier League opener at promoted Hull City on Saturday, Michael Carrick’s men took the lead twice against AC Milan before finishing on the wrong end of a 4-2 beating.
