Overview
Manchester United is having a fairly positive warm-up under Michael Carrick when continuously winning positive results in friendly matches. After a 0-1 defeat to Wrexham in the first match, the "Red Devils" quickly regained their rhythm of play with a 5-0 victory over Rosenborg.
Man United then continued to defeat Atletico Madrid 2-1 to win the Snapdragon Cup, before defeating Leeds United in a penalty shootout. Interspersed between these two victories was a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain, showing that Carrick's team is having stability in the preparation process.
The friendly match with Milan will close Man United's pre-season schedule. After that, the "Red Devils" will head to the opening match of the 2026-2027 Premier League at Hull City on August 22.
Carrick also has more options as Man United has brought in Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, Karl Darlow and Tynan Thompson in the summer transfer window. The club's board of directors is said to still want to continue to strengthen the force before the market closes in early September.
The focus of this confrontation is definitely Ruben Amorim. The former Man United coach currently leads Milan and will meet his old team again for the first time since leaving Old Trafford.
Amorim was appointed Milan coach in mid-June, but his start in Italy was not really favorable. The red and black team has not won any friendly matches, successively drawing with Celtic 2-2, drawing with Inter Milan 1-1 and losing to Chelsea 0-3 in the most recent match.
Milan will close the preparation process for the new season with a confrontation with Man United, before opening Serie A 2026-2027 at Torino on August 23.
The Milan team finished last season in fifth place and added Goncalo Ramos, Mario Gila and Sankhoun Diawara in the summer transfer window. However, friendly results show that Amorim still has a lot to do to shape the team as desired.
Personnel situation
Man United will likely give opportunities to a series of players who have not played in the pre-season. Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Marcus Rashford and Benjamin Sesko could all feature, while Harry Maguire is also expected to return.
Bruno Fernandes, Youri Tielemans, Luke Shaw and Matheus Cunha are likely to start. Another notable case is Mason Mount, who is still uncertain to play after having a foot problem in the match against PSG.
Milan may put Goncalo Ramos in the main squad after this striker only appeared from the bench in the defeat to Chelsea. Amorim is likely still loyal to the 3-4-2-1 formation that was controversial during his time leading Man United.
Rafael Leao is predicted to continue to start, despite rumors about the future. Ruben Loftus-Cheek may also appear from the start alongside experienced midfielder Luka Modric.
Expected lineup:
Man United: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw, Tielemans, Santos, Amad, Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo.
AC Milan: Torriani, Terracciano, De Winter, Pavlovic, Chukwueze, Modric, Comotto, Estupinan, Loftus-Cheek, Ramos, Leao.
The match between Man United and AC Milan takes place at 9:45 p.m. on August 15 (Vietnam time).
