Manchester United are set to play AC Milan in a pre-season friendly in Wroclaw, Poland, marking their final preparatory match before the new Premier League season begins. The match will see Ruben Amorim, former manager of Manchester United, face his old club as the current coach of AC Milan. The game is being held at the 42,000-capacity Tarczyński Arena, with Szymon Marciniak, a Polish referee, officiating the proceedings.
Michael Carrick, who succeeded Amorim as Manchester United manager, hopes the friendly will build confidence and cohesion within his squad. Carrick has indicated a desire to conduct more transfer business, though his selection for this match could offer insights into his plans for the upcoming season. Manchester United‘s opening Premier League game against Hull is scheduled for next week.
Amorim’s Return and Squad Details
The match marks a reunion for Amorim with his former club, following a 14-month tenure at Old Trafford that concluded with his sacking in January. He took over at AC Milan in June and has been working to implement his preferred three-at-the-back formation, a system that reportedly caused issues during his time at Manchester United. Amorim has acknowledged making mistakes during his previous role, stating he learned a lot from the experience.
Manchester United‘s starting XI for the friendly includes Lammens, Mazraoui, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw, Andrey Santos, Tielemans, Amad, Fernandes, Dorgu, and Cunha. Among the substitutes are Rashford and Zirkzee. Marcus Rashford is wearing the number 9 shirt, though the club has stated official shirt numbers will be confirmed next week. The midfield trio of Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Bruno Fernandes appears to be a settled part of Carrick’s plans.
AC Milan‘s lineup features Torriani, Terracciano, De Winter, Pavlovic, Chukwueze, Jashari, Musah, Estupinan, Loftus-Cheek, Cisse, and Ramos. Notable players in the AC Milan squad include former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, former Brighton left-back Pervis Estupinan, and Portugal striker Goncalo Ramos. Luka Modric, at the age of 40, is also part of the AC Milan squad.
Transfer Market and Team Philosophy
Michael Carrick has addressed Manchester United‘s transfer strategy, acknowledging the need to strengthen the squad while indicating the club will not spend at the same level as some of their Premier League rivals. Manchester United has spent approximately £85m on new players, acquiring Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Karl Darlow. This contrasts with other ‘big six’ clubs, with Chelsea reportedly spending £117m on Morgan Rogers, Manchester City £116m on Elliott Anderson, and Tottenham potentially £100m on Sandro Tonali.
Carrick emphasised that despite financial differences, the focus remains on football and competition. He stated that the club is pushing to make the most of its current situation to achieve success. His approach has been described as a contrast to Amorim’s tenure, which was characterised by a rigid 3-4-3 formation that Amorim was reportedly unwilling to change. Carrick’s management has been credited with fostering a more optimistic atmosphere at Old Trafford and securing a Champions League spot for the team.
The match kicked off with Manchester United in their cream change kit and AC Milan in their traditional black and red stripes. Fans can watch the friendly via United‘s in-house streaming service, MUTV, which offers subscriptions for £29.99 per year.
Source: independent.co.uk