Michael Carrick's men took a 2-1 lead against AC Milan before finishing on the wrong end of a 4-2 beating in a pre-season finale that will raise several questions for the Manchester United manager.
The loss in Wroclaw, Poland, comes just a week away from their Premier League opener against promoted Hull City on Saturday. Carrick's team had largely positive results in their six-match pre-season, but this result will undoubtedly shape the narrative heading into the new campaign.
Manchester United struggled to cope with AC Milan's switches to the right, with Luke Shaw having too much space to cover. The gaps between defence and midfield were not big, but they were not covered adequately. This exposed Andrey Santos' inexperience, who had an eye-catching start to the summer but struggled to make an impact in this match.
"We are disappointed with today," Carrick told MUTV afterwards. "We didn't play very well. There are no excuses."
Marcus Rashford, back at his boyhood club after a loan spell at Aston Villa and Barcelona, made his first appearance since December 2024. He was introduced with an hour gone and seemed relaxed, even applauding the positive reception he got from United supporters.
Rashford stayed wider than Patrick Dorgu, the man he replaced on the left, and showed some promising signs with a brilliant piece of play by the corner flag. However, his first run ended with him conceding a foul.
The transfer deadline will bring permanence to what remains an uncertain situation surrounding Rashford's future at the club. Premier League games at Hull and against Ipswich will offer a greater insight into Carrick's thinking.
The loss to AC Milan will undoubtedly be a talking point heading into the new season. Manchester United will look to bounce back against Hull City on Saturday, but the result will have raised several questions for Carrick.
Michael Carrick's men will need to regroup quickly ahead of their Premier League opener. The transfer deadline will also be a key focus, with Rashford's future remaining uncertain.
It's now a week away from the start of the Premier League season, and Manchester United will be looking to put this loss behind them. The result will undoubtedly be a talking point heading into the new campaign, and Carrick will need to assess how best to go about starting the season.
Source: BBC Sports