Manchester United's preseason schedule for the 2026/27 season has concluded, with the Red Devils playing five friendlies in Europe.
The team, under the guidance of manager Michael Carrick, kicked off their preseason with a 1-0 loss to Wrexham in Helsinki on July 18. This was followed by a resounding 5-0 win over Rosenborg, in which Joshua Zirkzee scored the pick of the goals.
Their next match was against Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid, which they won 2-1. The team then drew 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain on August 8, before sharing the same scoreline with Leeds United in Dublin.
A match in Wroclaw against AC Milan ended in a 4-2 loss for United. Despite the losses, the team has shown promise, with Carrick's tactics and the players' performances giving supporters hope of real success in the upcoming season.
Manchester United's preseason schedule has been designed to support their football preparations while connecting with their supporters across Europe. The team has played all their warm-up matches in Europe, with the exception of their friendly against Wrexham in Helsinki.
The decision to play all their preseason games in Europe is likely due to the fact that several United first-team stars had been at the World Cup in North America. This reduced travel distances and gave the players more time to rest and prepare for the upcoming season.
The team had a total of 13 players at the World Cup, all of whom were given time off before returning for preseason duties. Midfielder Manuel Ugarte suffered a serious knee injury while playing for Uruguay at the tournament and will be sidelined for many months.
Carrick's squad returned to full-strength against Milan, with the return of England duo Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo as second-half substitutes. The team's campaign begins with a trip to promoted Hull City on August 22, with the kickoff for that Saturday game at 12:30 p.m. local time (7:30 a.m. ET).
United then have four more league matches, including the first Manchester derby of the season, until the first international break of the new campaign begins on September 21.
Source: Yahoo Sports