Manchester United’s pre-season program drew to a close on Saturday with a 4-2 defeat to AC Milan at the Tarczyński Arena in Wrocław, Poland, a result made all the sharper by the identity of the man on the opposite touchline.
Rúben Amorim, sacked by United in January after a torrid run in charge, took charge of Milan for the first time against his old club, having been appointed by the Rossoneri in June.
Months after sacking him, the Red Devils were poised to face the Portuguese tactician, who had endured a nightmare start to life as Milan boss, with two draws and a defeat from his opening three friendlies, including draws against Celtic and rivals Inter, before a 3-0 defeat against Chelsea the previous weekend.
United, managed on an interim basis by club great Michael Carrick, looked to be heading for a fitting send-off to their summer schedule. Harry Maguire headed his side in front just two minutes in before Milan were pegged back by Samuel Chukwueze’s back-post finish.
United restored their lead through Patrick Dorgu, who seized on a sloppy back-pass by Filippo Terracciano to make it 2-1. But that proved to be the high-water mark of United’s afternoon.
Milan, roared on by a need to shake off their winless start under Amorim, rediscovered themselves in the second half. Alphadjo Cissè ghosted in at the far post as Chukwueze tore Carrick’s team apart on the right for the Rossoneri, before the same winger set up Gonçalo Ramos to nod Milan in front for the first time.
It was that same flank that was exposed again when Ruben Loftus-Cheek made it four, completing the turnaround and handing Amorim his first win in charge of the Italian giants.
There was late cause for celebration among the United faithful regardless of the scoreline, with Marcus Rashford appearing for the first time since December 2024 under Carrick, coming off after just over an hour. Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, will have a moment to forget he missed a penalty that might have altered the complexion of the contest.
The defeat means United’s pre-season, which had otherwise been a productive one, including a 5–0 victory over Rosenborg, a 2–1 win against Atlético Madrid, and a penalty-shootout win over Leeds United, ends on a sour note just a week before the Premier League campaign begins.
As one report put it, “With the Premier League season under way next weekend, it was a little alarming how things unravelled.”
For Amorim, the win will offer some relief after a difficult introduction to Serie A life, even if questions remain about Milan’s defensive solidity heading into their own domestic opener.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Manchester United’s pre-season ended in defeat and déjà vu, a 4-2 loss to Rúben Amorim’s AC Milan in Wrocław, with the sacked former boss taking his revenge just days before United’s Premier League opener.
United led twice through Maguire and Dorgu, but a second-half collapse down their right flank, exploited repeatedly by Chukwueze, let Milan storm back through Cissè, Ramos and Loftus-Cheek.
The defensive vulnerabilities exposed in this friendly are a real concern for Carrick’s side heading straight into competitive action against Arsenal.
