Rashford returns as United lose 4-2 to AC Milan in Wroclaw pre-season finale
Marcus Rashford made his first Manchester United appearance since 12 December 2024 as United lost 4-2 to AC Milan in their pre-season finale in Wroclaw on Saturday, a week before their Premier League opener at promoted Hull City.
Manchester United took the lead twice during the match but conceded four and finished the six-match pre-season on a disappointing note despite the build-up being largely positive. Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez all made their first appearances of this summer while skipper Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans played for the full 90 minutes; there appear to be no fresh injury concerns after a campaign of warm-up fixtures, apart from a foot issue for Mason Mount in Gothenburg seven days ago that has kept him out for almost three full games.
AC Milan, managed in this match by former United boss Ruben Amorim, capitalised on close-range opportunities as three of their four goals came from near the goal; those with the benefit of replays thought one of the finishes was offside and there was no VAR in operation in Wroclaw. Ruben Loftus-Cheek completed Milan's scoring by racing beyond Lisandro Martinez and driving a shot past Senne Lammens, with the BBC report adding that without Lammens the overall damage would have been worse.
United showed particular vulnerability when Milan switched play to the right, leaving Luke Shaw with too much space to cover and insufficient support, while the gaps between defence and midfield were not adequately closed. After an eye-catching first five pre-season fixtures, Andrey Santos' inexperience was exposed in this game, issues the manager will have to address as he prepares for the competitive schedule.
Rashford was introduced after an hour as one of six substitutes and wore the vacant number nine shirt, although United officials were quick to state the number was not permanent. It was his first appearance for the club since the Europa League trip to Viktoria Plzen on 12 December 2024, after which he was effectively banished by Amorim and subsequently loaned first to Aston Villa and then Barcelona; he was not expected to return from that loan spell.
When Rashford began his on-field warm-up he applauded the reception from United supporters in the corner he was running towards, and shortly after that Samuel Chukwueze tapped home AC Milan's first equaliser at the same end of the pitch. Rashford, who replaced Patrick Dorgu on the left, performed a couple of passing tricks with Martinez, saw his first run end in a conceded foul and then produced a piece of play by the corner flag to get past an opponent, prompting the crowd; the report described the reintroduction as solid, not spectacular.
Dorgu and Harry Maguire were United's scorers in the match. After the game Michael Carrick told MUTV: "We are disappointed with today," adding, "We didn't play very well. There are no excuses." The manager will have selections and the transfer window to consider ahead of competitive fixtures.
The transfer window closing on 1 September will determine the permanence of squad decisions made this month, and Premier League fixtures at promoted Hull City and against Ipswich were noted as providing a greater insight into how Michael Carrick plans to start the season.
