On Saturday, August 15, Ruben Amorim played out a convincing 4-2 win against Manchester United, just a few days before the 2026/2027 season officially resumes. However, the result from the Manchester United Vs AC Milan pre-season friendly didn’t sit well with some legends of United, let alone their fans.
For Wayne Rooney, United weren’t in control at all. The ex-Manchester United captain had this to say in the Manchester United Vs AC Milan fixture:
“I’m not gonna lie, since that early goal, Milan have completely taken control.” – Rooney.
Dimitar Babertov also commented on the scoreline:
“It’s not just a defeat; it is two lessons taught in one match. First, all Ruben Amorim, through his victory over Manchester United, proved that everything he said about Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo is true.” – Babertov.
As if that were not enough, Jamie Carragher also had something to say concerning the Manchester United Vs AC Milan pre-season friendly:
“The game isn’t finished yet, but Manchester United have got a serious problem in the middle of the pitch. Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Bruno Fernandes are struggling to control possession, and they’re leaving far too much space between the lines. They’re not really coexisting at the moment.”
The 48-year-old English analyst further added:
“Milan are finding those gaps far too easily. When United lose the ball, the midfield isn’t recovering quickly enough, and that is giving Amorim’s players the freedom to turn and attack. Carrick has to find a solution because you cannot allow a team of this quality to dominate that area for long periods.”
Manchester United Vs AC Milan Pre-Season Friendly: Was Amorim The Problem?
When Amorim coached Sporting Lisbon, he was one of the finest managers during that time. In fact, the Champions League night can vividly recall when he demolished Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. United admired the way he managed Sporting Lisbon, which had them top the Portuguese League, and then made a move to sign him.
Unfortunately, his stay at United didn’t go as expected, as he wasn’t successful as a coach at the club. In fact, Manchester United fans regarded him as a fraud, while rival fans trolled him. It didn’t take long before the AC Milan manager received his sack.
And, looking like a twist of fate, it would seem that Amorim returned with AC Milan to take revenge on the English club, putting four past them in the Manchester United Vs AC Milan game.
However, it’s still not certain if Amorim should shoulder the blame alone for his failure at United, since he has only won one pre-season match, despite playing four matches.
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What Went Wrong With United: What Can Be Done?
United’s midfield and first line weren’t helping matters. They easily allowed Milan to play some line-breaking passes through the midfield, since they (Milan) dominated possession and controlled the game’s tempo.
Additionally, Bruno Fernandes had a deep role to play in the Manchester United Vs AC Milan match, as opposed to his previous position. It was as if the Portuguese player wasn’t in his best form, considering he has missed two penalties during the 2026/2027 pre-season.
The chemistry of the players hasn’t settled quite right, as recent signings, academy players, and returning players haven’t had the time to understand their gameplay.
In any case, United needs a new striker, since the false nine tactics Carrick is deploying aren’t suitable for the players. INEOS would also need to sign players that have the passion and hunger to play football for United, as this has, for a long time, been the fault of the team.
However, the positives in the Manchester United Vs AC Milan pre-season friendly are that Youri Tielemans isn’t a wasteful signing, and Dorgu is better playing at the left-back position.
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