Manchester United closed their pre-season campaign with a disappointing 4-2 defeat to AC Milan in Wroclaw, a result that overshadowed the significant return of Marcus Rashford to first-team action. The loss, coming just a week before United's Premier League opener at newly-promoted Hull City, exposed defensive frailties that manager Michael Carrick will need to address quickly.
United twice took the lead during the match but could not hold on, eventually succumbing to a Milan side managed by Ruben Amorim, the man who previously oversaw United's first team. Three of Milan's four goals came from close range, with one contested as potentially offside in the absence of VAR. Ruben Loftus-Cheek capped off the scoring by outpacing Lisandro Martinez before beating goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who prevented an even heavier defeat with several key saves. Patrick Dorgu and Harry Maguire were on target for United.
Defensively, United struggled particularly when Milan shifted play toward their right flank, exploiting space that left-back Luke Shaw, who played the entire match, could not adequately cover. Gaps between United's defensive and midfield lines, while not enormous, went unaddressed throughout the contest. Recently signed Andrey Santos also had a difficult afternoon after a promising start to pre-season.
Despite the result, several positives emerged from a fixture list that has otherwise been largely encouraging for Carrick's squad. Captain Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans both played the full 90 minutes, while Kobbie Mainoo and Martinez made their first pre-season appearances alongside Rashford. No new injuries were reported, though midfielder Mason Mount continues to be sidelined by a foot problem originally sustained a week earlier in Gothenburg, an issue that has now kept him out of nearly three matches.
The headline moment of the evening, however, was Rashford's introduction as a second-half substitute — his first appearance for United since a Europa League match against Viktoria Plzen in December 2024. The forward had since been frozen out under Amorim and sent on loan, first to Aston Villa and later Barcelona, with many expecting his Old Trafford career to be over for good.
Rashford appeared at ease throughout his time on the pitch in Poland, acknowledging supporters during his warm-up before Samuel Chukwueze scored Milan's equalizer moments later at the same end. After coming on, Rashford operated in a wider role than Dorgu, whom he replaced. Though his first involvement resulted in a conceded foul, he soon produced a moment of skill near the corner flag that beat his marker and drew fans to their feet. It was, by most measures, an understated but solid reintroduction.
United officials clarified that the number nine shirt Rashford wore was not being permanently assigned to him, seemingly to manage expectations ahead of the transfer deadline on September 1, which will likely determine his long-term future at the club.
Speaking to MUTV after the final whistle, Carrick did not shy away from criticizing his side's display.