England defender Harry Maguire has candidly described Manchester United’s 4-2 defeat against AC Milan as the team’s most disappointing showing of the pre-season. Reflecting on the result, Maguire acknowledged that United struggled to keep pace with the Italian side, ultimately conceding that their opponents were deserving winners on the day.
When asked to pinpoint the tactical failures during the match, the defender noted that the squad was far too passive. Despite the setback, Maguire insisted that the players remain confident as they approach the start of the new Premier League campaign. He emphasized that the team must now shift their full attention toward their upcoming league opener against newly promoted Hull City, scheduled for Saturday, August 22.
The club enters the new season following a challenging 2025/26 campaign, during which they played only 40 matches. Their limited schedule was the result of early exits from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, compounded by a lack of European football after finishing 15th in the previous league standings.
The path to the current setup saw significant managerial turnover; Ruben Amorim was dismissed in January, followed by a brief interim spell under Darren Fletcher, which included an FA Cup loss to Brighton & Hove Albion. Michael Carrick eventually took the helm, guiding the team to a third-place finish in the Premier League table to stabilize the season. The report also notes that speaking to the media after the 4-2 loss, Maguire said that Manchester United players still feel confident going into the Premier League season.
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