Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick said the club “still maintain a good attitude” after his side were beaten 4-2 by AC Milan in a friendly in Poland on 15 August.
United took the lead twice during the match but were eventually overcome by the Italian side. Carrick acknowledged that his team had not produced its best performance, while urging people not to draw conclusions that go beyond the result of a pre-season fixture.
The defeat came despite United twice moving in front. AC Milan responded on each occasion before taking control and completing a 4-2 victory.
Carrick’s assessment focused on maintaining perspective rather than allowing the result to affect the team’s outlook. Although he accepted that United had failed to reach the required level during the match, he stressed that the group remained in a positive frame of mind.
“We still maintain a good attitude,” Carrick said.
The match also marked the return of Marcus Rashford, who came on as a substitute in the 60th minute. It was the forward’s first appearance for Manchester United since December 2024.
Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo also returned to action after lengthy absences. Their involvement provided a significant moment for United as the club continues to bring players back into contention.
Rashford’s return was one of the main developments from the fixture, with the forward able to feature again after his long period away from the team. Martinez and Mainoo likewise made their comebacks as United used the friendly to provide important playing time ahead of the new season.
The result was United’s final recorded outcome before their opening Premier League fixture. They will begin their campaign against Hull City on 22 August.
Carrick will therefore have the opportunity to assess the lessons from the loss to AC Milan before United’s first competitive match. The manager admitted the performance was below the level expected, but his comments indicated that the club’s focus remains on preparing for the Premier League and welcoming back players who have been unavailable.
United’s reaction to the defeat will now be measured against their response in the meeting with Hull City. The match in Poland ended with AC Milan securing a 4-2 win, but Carrick’s message was that the result should not lead to wider or premature judgements about his team.