Manchester United concluded their pre-season schedule with a 4-2 defeat against AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland. The match, played at a packed Tarczyński Arena, saw United take the lead twice before ultimately succumbing to the Italian side. This result comes just a week before United’s Premier League opener against Hull City.
Michael Carrick’s team initially went ahead through Maguire, who headed home from a Bruno Fernandes corner early in the game. However, AC Milan, managed by former United boss Ruben Amorim, responded with an equaliser from Samuel Chukwueze in the 37th minute. United regained their lead in the second half with a goal from Dorgu in the 51st minute, capitalising on a mistake in the build-up.
Despite twice holding the advantage, United were unable to maintain their lead. AC Milan equalised again through Cissè in the 57th minute. The Italian side then took control, with Ramos scoring his first goal for the club in the 68th minute, followed by Ruben Loftus-Cheek extending their lead to 4-2 in the 71st minute. Lorenzo Torriani, AC Milan’s goalkeeper, also saved a penalty from Bruno Fernandes towards the end of the first half, preventing United from increasing their lead.
Match Details and Player Appearances
The match saw several key players return to action for Manchester United. Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, and Lisandro Martinez all made their first pre-season appearances. Captain Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans played the entire 90 minutes. Other notable players for United included Luke Shaw, who also played the full game, and recent signing Andrey Santos.
For AC Milan, Samuel Chukwueze was particularly influential, scoring the first equaliser and assisting two other goals. Cissè and Ramos both opened their scoring accounts for the club during the match. The Italian side’s lineup featured players such as Terracciano, Musah, and Estupiñan, with several substitutions made on the hour mark, including the introduction of Gila, Modrić, and Bartesaghi.
The referee for the match was Marciniak from Poland. Bookings were issued to Estupiñan of AC Milan in the 11th minute and Dorgu of Manchester United in the 48th minute. The game also included a tribute to Franco Baresi, organised by Milan Club Polonia in the stands.
Carrick’s Assessment and Preparations for the Season
Following the defeat, Michael Carrick expressed his disappointment. He told MUTV, “We are disappointed with today. We didn’t play very well. There are no excuses.” The manager will now assess the team’s performance as they prepare for their upcoming Premier League campaign.
One area of concern highlighted was AC Milan’s ability to switch play to the right, which seemed to create difficulties for Luke Shaw due to the amount of space he had to cover and a lack of support. The gaps between United’s defence and midfield were also noted as not being adequately covered, and the inexperience of Andrey Santos was observed during the game.
Despite the loss, United’s pre-season has been largely positive over six matches. There are no new injury concerns reported, though Mason Mount has been out for almost three full games with a foot issue that was initially considered a precaution. AC Milan, meanwhile, will have a week of intensive work before their Serie A opener away to Torino on Sunday at 20:45 CEST.
The match served as a final preparation for both clubs, with AC Milan securing their first win of the summer against Manchester United.
Source: bbc.co.uk