Manchester United face a reunion with former manager Ruben Amorim as they take on AC Milan in their final pre-season friendly before the start of the new Premier League season.
Amorim was sacked at the start of the year after a wretched spell at Old Trafford having arrived with considerable fanfare. The Portuguese coach is settling into Milan after being appointed by the Serie A club, though is already facing familiar issues as he looks to embed his favoured three-at-the-back formation.
Michael Carrick has done strong work since replacing Amorim as Manchester United manager, and will hope his squad can build more confidence and cohesion before the campaign proper begins. Carrick is eager to do more business in the transfer market but his selection here may be instructive with just a week to go until United’s opening game against Hull.
Follow all of the latest from the pre-season friendly in Wroclaw with our live blog below:
Manchester United confirmed line-up
Manchester United XI: Lammens: Mazraoui, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Andrey Santos, Tielemans; Amad, Fernandes, Dorgu; Cunha
Team news imminent
We should be finding out how the sides will line up today very shortly. Which United players will be returning from their post-World Cup break?
Man United prepare for pre-season finale
United touched down in Poland yesterday and are getting ready in Wroclaw today
LAST TIME OUT: Man United beat Leeds in penalty shootout after friendly draw
Croke Park, Dublin, was the location of Man United’s penultimate pre-season clash and they earned a satisfying shootout win over rivals Leeds following a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes.
Noussair Mazraoui scored the decisive spot-kick in the 5-4 shootout triumph after James Justin’s effort struck the crossbar, with United skipper Bruno Fernandes having earlier surprisingly missed from the spot before it went to sudden death.
Joshua Zirkzee had fired United in front in the 16th minute, set up by the excellent Bryan Mbeumo before Leeds drew level with their first real chance around the 30-minute mark as Brenden Aaronson applied the finishing touch after fine work from former United winger Daniel James.
The 90 minutes ended in bizarre fashion after two young fans ran on to the pitch to take selfies with Fernandes and when security did not immediately intervene, at least three others joined in and play did not restart before referee Neil Doyle blew for full time.
Early AC Milan team news
Meanwhile AC Milan could hand a first start to their own star signing of the window, Portuguese forward Goncalo Ramos, who signed from PSG for a club-record €74m fee plus add-ons last month.
He came off the bench for a cameo against Chelsea last time out.
Possible AC Milan XI: Torriani, Terracciano, De Winter, Pavlovic, Chukwueze, Modric, Comotto, Estupinan, Loftus-Cheek, Ramos, Leao
Early Man United team news
Mason Mount remains a doubt for United after suffering a foot injury in the friendly with PSG, but Harry Maguire, who was rested for Wednesday’s pre-season clash with Leeds, is set to return.
Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford are all expected to make appearances for the first time this summer, while summer signing Andrey Santos has impressed thus far and is likely to be given another start.
Possible Man Utd XI: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw, Tielemans, Santos, Amad, Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo
How to watch Man United v AC Milan
Man Utd play AC Milan at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland this afternoon, with kick-off at 3.45pm BST.
Fans can watch the friendly on United’s in-house streaming service, MUTV. Subscriptions are available for £29.99 per year.
Manchester United v AC Milan
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Man United v AC Milan.
It’s United’s final pre-season friendly before beginning their Premier League campaign against Hull next weekend and it’s taking place in Wroclaw, Poland.
Perhaps most notably, Milan are managed by a certain Ruben Amorim – who left Old Trafford after a dismal reign earlier this year.
