Marcus Rashford made his first Manchester United appearance in 19 months as a second-half substitute in a pre-season friendly defeat to AC Milan. The forward conceded a foul immediately but showed determination in attempting to win back possession, which felt significant on the day of his surprise return to his boyhood club.
Rashford was brought on for the final 30 minutes of the match in Wroclaw, entering the pitch alongside five team-mates. Ruben Amorim, now AC Milan's manager, was seated in the dugout for virtually the only time throughout the afternoon. The irony was not lost on anyone, as it was Amorim who had frozen Rashford out at United and seemingly ended his Old Trafford career. Now, Michael Carrick is working to repair relations, and both parties are speaking positively.
No.9 shirt and growing influence
The decision to give Rashford the No.9 shirt in Poland felt meaningful, a prestigious number reserved for standout players. While United stressed it was merely a provisional number, it would seem odd to alter it at this stage. Rashford's status as a United player remains secure with just over a fortnight of the transfer window remaining.
He grew into the game after that early foul. His direct running from the left posed problems for Milan's defenders, and he exploited the space behind wing-back Samuel Chukwueze, who was outstanding going forward but vulnerable defensively. At one stage, Rashford used his shoulder to force Mario Gila over the ball before combining effectively with Luke Shaw, a left-flank pairing that once proved productive.
This brief appearance provided sufficient proof that if he stays, he will have a part to fulfil under Carrick. He came on for the energetic Patrick Dorgu but brought something contrasting, and that movement troubled Milan. One wondered what Amorim thought of it as he patrolled his technical area, frequently adopting the squat stance seen so often at Old Trafford last year.
Match events and aftermath
Amorim's departure from United came rapidly after a disagreement with Jason Wilcox, but the pair were spotted chatting in the tunnel before kick-off, and the exchange appeared cordial. The involvement of Amazon cameras added a distinct element, positioned with the United group to capture behind-the-scenes material, with United anxious to prevent confrontations or uncomfortable situations on film.
Amorim entered the match under strain, with his use of the term "suffering" unsettling Milan fans, and his three pre-season matches underwhelming, including a 3-0 loss to Chelsea the previous week. He derived considerable satisfaction from this 4-2 triumph. It seemed strange to watch United battle to control Milan in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 formation, when many players had operated within it under his guidance.
The day began promisingly when Harry Maguire nodded in a Bruno Fernandes corner within two minutes, appearing to set up a humbling afternoon for Amorim. Fernandes had not delivered corners against Leeds United on Wednesday but resumed set-piece duties here with immediate impact. However, after dragging a penalty wide in the shootout against Leeds, he saw his first-half attempt kept out by Lorenzo Torriani in Poland.
By that stage, Milan had drawn level. Maguire and Andrey Santos collided, both tumbling to the ground, and Goncalo Ramos exploited the space to lay off for Chukwueze to finish. Both sides made careless mistakes in possession, ultimately punishing Milan when Filippo Terracciano's pass located Dorgu in space in front of goal. Unfortunately for Terracciano, they were on opposing teams, and Dorgu converted from close range.
United failed to preserve the lead again, with Chukwueze's strike going wide until Alphadjo Cisse converted at the back post. Chukwueze then claimed his second assist with a delicate delivery headed in by Ramos. The irony of a wing-back having such influence was not lost on United. By this point, Rashford had entered the fray alongside Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo, and the match slipped beyond United's grasp. Milan's tactical setup dragged United players out of position, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek broke free to net a fourth goal.
It was not the conclusion to pre-season that Carrick or United had envisaged, yet this could prove merely the start if Rashford stays at United.
