AC Milan produced a stunning comeback to defeat Manchester United 4-2 in their final pre season friendly in Wroclaw, Poland, giving former United manager Ruben Amorim the perfect ending to an emotionally charged reunion with his old club.
The result was particularly significant for Amorim, who was appointed by AC Milan after his Manchester United tenure came to an end. Facing his former employers for the first time, the Portuguese manager watched his new side recover from two separate deficits before producing an impressive second half to secure victory.
Manchester United started the contest brightly and appeared to have taken control when Harry Maguire opened the scoring in the second minute. The England international rose highest to meet Bruno Fernandes’ corner and directed his header beyond the Milan goalkeeper to give United an early 1-0 advantage.
The early goal gave Michael Carrick’s team confidence, but Milan gradually settled and began finding spaces in the United defence.
The Italian side eventually drew level in the 37th minute through Samuel Chukwueze.
The Nigerian winger capitalised on a defensive mix up involving Harry Maguire and Andrey Santos before finishing the opportunity to make it 1-1. The goal exposed some of the defensive uncertainty that would eventually prove costly for United.
United went into half time level, but the Red Devils regained the lead shortly after the restart.
Patrick Dorgu scored in the 51st minute to make it 2-1. The Danish defender reacted quickest to another mistake in the Milan defence and produced a composed finish, restoring United’s advantage.
At that stage, United appeared to be on course to finish their pre season campaign with a positive result.
However, Milan’s response was emphatic.
Just six minutes after Dorgu’s goal, Alphadjo Cisse equalised in the 57th minute, bringing the Italian giants back into the contest at 2-2.
The momentum had suddenly shifted.
Milan began attacking with greater confidence, while United struggled to contain their opponents in transition. The Rossoneri’s movement in the final third caused repeated problems, and their pressure eventually produced another breakthrough.
Gonçalo Ramos put Milan ahead in the 73rd minute, completing the turnaround and giving Amorim’s team a 3-2 advantage.
The Portuguese striker was one of Milan’s most effective attacking players and his goal put United in serious trouble.
The final blow arrived in the 81st minute, when Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored to extend Milan’s advantage to 4-2. The former Chelsea midfielder’s goal effectively ended United’s hopes of recovering and completed a remarkable comeback for the Serie A side.
The final whistle confirmed a 4-2 victory for AC Milan and ensured that Amorim walked away from his reunion with Manchester United as the winner.
For United, the defeat brought their pre season preparations to a disappointing conclusion. The Red Devils had shown attacking promise during the match, scoring twice and creating additional opportunities, but their defensive frailties once again became impossible to ignore.
Bruno Fernandes also endured a frustrating afternoon after missing a penalty, adding another moment of disappointment to United’s final friendly. The midfielder had previously missed from the spot during the penalty shootout against Leeds, making the latest miss another talking point heading into the new season.
The match also marked an important moment for Marcus Rashford, who returned to the Manchester United side after spending last season on loan at Barcelona. His appearance was particularly notable because it came against Amorim, the manager who had overseen his departure from Old Trafford.
Rashford came off the bench as United looked for a way back into the contest, but he could not prevent Milan from completing their comeback.
For AC Milan, the victory provided a major boost ahead of the new campaign. It was reportedly Amorim’s first victory as Milan manager, making the result even more significant as he continues to introduce his ideas to the Italian club.
The Portuguese coach will also take encouragement from the character his team demonstrated.
Milan went behind twice but refused to collapse. Instead, they responded with three second half goals and finished the match strongly.
United’s final pre season fixture therefore provided two very different stories.
For Milan, it was a night of resilience, attacking quality and a memorable victory over a former manager’s previous club.
For Manchester United, it was a warning that there is still work to be done before competitive football begins. Carrick will need to address the defensive mistakes exposed in Poland, while the team must also become more clinical when opportunities arrive.
The defeat means United finish their pre season campaign on a disappointing note, having managed just one victory across their five friendly matches.
Milan, meanwhile, can take considerable confidence from the performance as Amorim continues his attempt to rebuild the club.
The storyline could hardly have been more intriguing.
Amorim left Manchester United under difficult circumstances, returned to face his former club with a new team and watched his players overturn a 1-0 deficit, fall behind again at 2-1 and then score three unanswered goals.
It was a night that belonged to AC Milan and their new manager.
Final Score: Manchester United 2-4 AC Milan
Goals: Harry Maguire 2′, Samuel Chukwueze 37′, Patrick Dorgu 51′, Alphadjo Cisse 57′, Gonçalo Ramos 73′, Ruben Loftus-Cheek 81′.
