Manchester United concluded their pre-season preparations with a 4-2 defeat against AC Milan in a friendly match held at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland, on August 15, 2026. The Milan side was led by Ruben Amorim, who previously managed United.
United, coached by Michael Carrick, took the lead twice through goals from Harry Maguire and Patrick Dorgu. However, defensive lapses allowed AC Milan to score four goals, including three from close range and a decisive strike by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, securing victory for Amorim's team.
Despite the loss, Carrick highlighted the positives from the pre-season campaign, which included notable results such as a win over Atletico Madrid and a draw with Paris Saint-Germain. He acknowledged the team's underperformance in this match and emphasized the need for improvement, especially for players gaining their initial minutes.
Marcus Rashford made his first appearance for United since returning from a loan spell at Barcelona, coming on as a substitute in the 60th minute. United captain Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty for the second consecutive friendly, with Milan goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani saving his shot.
Match Highlights
- United's early lead came from a corner delivered by Fernandes, headed in by Maguire.
- AC Milan equalized through Samuel Chukwueze after a defensive error.
- United regained the lead from a penalty following a foul on Youri Tielemans.
- AC Milan responded with goals from Alphadjo Cisse, Goncalo Ramos, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Carrick praised the squad's depth and the valuable playing time gained during pre-season, noting that selection decisions remain to be made ahead of the Premier League opener against Hull City on August 22.
Ruben Amorim, who was dismissed as United manager in January after 14 months, returned to face his former club and secured a winning result. Carrick, initially appointed caretaker, led United to a third-place finish last season and now holds the head coach position full-time.
