Manchester United wrapped up their pre-season schedule with a disappointing 4-2 loss against AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland. The match, managed by former United boss Ruben Amorim, served as a final tune-up for Michael Carrick’s side just one week before their Premier League season opener against Hull City.
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 summer. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans were tasked with playing the full 90 minutes to build match fitness.
Despite taking the lead twice during the contest, United struggled to contain the Italian side. Defensive vulnerabilities were particularly evident when Milan shifted play to the right flank, leaving Luke Shaw exposed without sufficient support. Furthermore, the gaps between the midfield and defensive lines were exploited, and recent signing Andrey Santos faced difficulties, highlighting his inexperience at this level. Three of Milan’s four goals came from close range, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek sealing the result by outpacing Martinez to score. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens was credited with preventing a more lopsided scoreline.
While the team appears to have avoided fresh injury setbacks, the absence of Mason Mount remains a concern. The midfielder has now missed nearly three full games following a foot issue sustained in Gothenburg a week prior, which was initially deemed a minor precaution. Carrick now faces the challenge of addressing these tactical lapses before the competitive campaign begins.
Reflecting on the performance, Michael Carrick admitted the team fell short of expectations. Speaking to MUTV, he stated, “We are disappointed with today. We didn’t play very well. There are no excuses.” The manager will now use the flight back to Manchester to evaluate the squad’s readiness for the upcoming league opener.
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.
And losing 4-2 in Wroclaw to a Milan side led by former United boss Ruben Amorim is not a good look.
The problem, whether in pre-season or when the campaign proper begins, is that results shape narratives.
