Manchester United concluded their pre-season schedule with a disappointing 4-2 defeat against AC Milan in Wroclaw. 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.
The match served as a significant milestone for Marcus Rashford, who made his first Manchester United appearance since December 2024. Alongside Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez also made their first appearances of the pre-season. Meanwhile, skipper Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans were tasked with playing the full 90 minutes to build fitness ahead of the competitive campaign.
While the six-match pre-season has been largely positive, the team faced a setback in Wroclaw. Losing 4-2 to a Milan side led by former United boss Ruben Amorim is not a good look for the squad. Three of the four Milan goals were close-range efforts, and while there was no VAR in operation to confirm, some observers felt one of the goals was offside. Ruben Loftus-Cheek eventually rounded off the scoring by racing beyond Martinez to drive a shot past goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who made several key interventions to prevent further damage.
Tactical issues were evident throughout the match, particularly when AC Milan switched play to the right flank. Luke Shaw, who played the full game, often found himself with too much space to cover without adequate support. Furthermore, the gaps between the defense and midfield were not covered effectively, and recent signing Andrey Santos saw his inexperience exposed during the contest. These defensive vulnerabilities will give Michael Carrick significant points to consider as he prepares for the upcoming league opener.
On a more positive note, there appear to be no fresh injury concerns following the match. This follows a period of caution regarding Mason Mount, who has been sidelined for nearly three games due to a foot issue sustained in Gothenburg seven days ago. Reflecting on the performance, Carrick remained candid about the team’s shortcomings. “We are disappointed with today,” Carrick told MUTV afterwards. “We didn’t play very well. There are no excuses.”
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