AC Milan, led by ex-coach Ruben Amorim, defeats Manchester United in final friendly match.

Manchester United concluded their pre-season preparations with a disappointing 4-2 loss to AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland, on Saturday. The match, which saw Michael Carrick's team take the lead twice, ultimately highlighted defensive frailties that allowed Milan to capitalize and secure victory under the management of former United coach Ruben Amorim.

United initially surged ahead with goals from Harry Maguire and Patrick Dorgu, but their defensive lapses proved costly. AC Milan responded with three close-range goals, culminating in a fourth from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, sealing the win for the Italian side. This defeat marked only the second loss for United in their six-match pre-season campaign, which included a notable victory over Atletico Madrid and a draw against European champions Paris Saint-Germain.

In a post-match interview with MUTV, Carrick expressed a blend of optimism and disappointment regarding the pre-season. "On the whole, it has been very good, and I think there are a lot of positives to take from it," he stated. However, he acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly after a performance that he deemed unsatisfactory. "We didn't play well today, so there are reasons for that. In some ways, we need to learn from it," he added, noting that some players were experiencing their first minutes on the pitch.

Saturday's match also marked the return of Marcus Rashford, who made his first appearance for United since his loan to Barcelona. Meanwhile, captain Bruno Fernandes faced challenges from the penalty spot, missing for the second consecutive friendly after his earlier miss against Leeds. Despite this, Fernandes contributed to United's early lead by providing a corner that Maguire converted with a powerful header.

United's defensive issues became apparent as Milan equalized following a mix-up that allowed Samuel Chukwueze to score. Although Dorgu restored United's lead by capitalizing on a defensive error, Milan quickly leveled again through Alphadjo Cisse. The match turned decisively in Milan's favor when Goncalo Ramos scored in the 68th minute, followed by Loftus-Cheek's sprint to net the fourth goal just minutes later.

Carrick reflected on the match, stating, "A lot of the boys will be better for the minutes. We've got a good squad, so there are decisions to be made." As the team prepares for the upcoming season, they will face newly-promoted Hull City on August 22, marking the start of their 2026/27 Premier League campaign.