All articles tagged with #pre season
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he deliberately creates unpredictable pre-match scenarios in training—delaying meals, altering travel routes and even tweaking dressing-room conditions—to prepare players for disruptions like a delayed flight to Napoli. The goal is calm adaptation, not panic, a philosophy that coincided with a 1-0 Champions League win thanks to Odegaard’s late goal, with White fit and Timber close to a return.
Former West Bromwich Albion player Quevin Castro, 25, died during a pre-season friendly in Portugal while playing for Real Sport Clube against Estrela da Amadora. The AFL confirmed his death and the match was postponed; West Brom will honor him with a 25th-minute applause in their upcoming game against Burnley as tributes pour in from all clubs involved.
Jamal Musiala disclosed in an Instagram post that he has been diagnosed with temporary, easily treatable absence seizures caused by a neurological dysfunction after fainting in two Bayern Munich pre-season friendlies (vs Leipzig and Heidenheim). He stresses there is no further health risk, is receiving medical treatment, and is focusing on recovery, with Bayern yet to confirm his participation for the German Super Cup season opener against Dortmund.
Liverpool finished their pre-season with two friendlies against Como, where Jeremy Jacquet impressed on his comeback from injury, displaying composure, recovery pace and even scoring, potentially staking a claim for the Newcastle opener. Cody Gakpo scored again and looked sharper amid transfer talk, while Victor Munoz showed creativity and pace to offer Iraola new attacking options. With Ibrahima Konaté leaving for Real Madrid and Curtis Jones’s future uncertain, Liverpool’s squad is taking shape as they head toward the season.
Real Madrid defeated Schalke 3-0 in a pre-season friendly, with Mbappé opening the scoring early and Arda Güler delivering a standout display (8.5). Lunin added a solid cameo with three saves, Espi produced a superb header and effective hold-up play, while Vinícius Jr. struggled on the wing and Courtois was barely tested.
Manchester United’s pre-season has shown promise under Michael Carrick, but a 4-2 defeat to Ruben Amorim’s Milan highlighted tactical gaps, especially on the flanks and at left-back. Carrick has stressed the need for more signings, with genuine competition for Luke Shaw and options like Lewis Hall and Myles Lewis-Skelly in consideration, plus potential moves for Amass on loan to secure minutes. United’s spending under Carrick remains disciplined (about £85m so far) compared with Milan’s big-money signings, and with the transfer window still open, strengthening the squad appears a clear priority to convert preseason optimism into real progress.
Manchester United were beaten 4-2 by Milan in their final pre-season friendly in Wroclaw, with Bruno Fernandes missing a penalty for the second time in three days as Milan struck three goals in 14 minutes of the second half to overturn a 2-1 United lead. Maguire gave United the early advantage, Chukwueze and Ramos levelled for Milan, Dorgu briefly put United ahead, and Loftus-Cheek sealed the win for Milan. Rashford wore the No. 9 on his return, fuelling speculation about his role as United head into the new season with defensive vulnerabilities exposed. Next up: Hull City.
Manchester United fell 4-2 to AC Milan in a Wroclaw pre-season friendly, briefly leading twice but exposed defensive gaps and wing-space vulnerabilities as Rashford returned for the first time since December 2024. Carrick will weigh squad needs and transfer options ahead of the Premier League opener with Hull City.
AC Milan overturned an early United lead to win 4-2 in a sun-soaked Wroclaw pre-season friendly, with Bruno Fernandes converting a penalty after Samuel Chukwueze’s leveller and then Milan struck three times after the break through Alphadjo Cisse, Goncalo Ramos and Loftus-Cheek. The match provided a useful fitness run-out for Carrick, featured United’s new ivory third kit, saw Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans form a new midfield pair, and included a hydration break in 34°C heat with Senne Lammens impressing in goal.
AC Milan beat Manchester United 4-2 in a Poland pre-season friendly, earning their first win of the summer thanks to Chukwueze’s standout display (MOTM) with a goal and assist. Ramos and Torriani also impressed, while Terracciano made a costly error. Musah struggled and some defensive holes were evident, though the second-half tweaks by Amorim helped Milan pull away and reinforce their positive pre-season signs.
AC Milan are slated to face Manchester United in a final pre-season clash in Poland, with MilanNews predicting a 3-4-2-1 XI that hopes Yunus Musah starts in midfield over Luka Modric, a backline featuring Torriani, Terracciano, De Winter and Pavlovic, wing duties for Chukwueze and Estupinan, and a front three of Loftus-Cheek, Cisse and Ramos; Maignan and Gabbia are absent, leaving captaincy unsettled.
AC Milan and Manchester United revealed their starting XIs for the final pre-season clash, both lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Milan with Torriani in goal, Pavlovic as captain, a back line featuring Terracciano and De Winter, and a midfield quartet of Chukwueze, Musah, Jashari and Estupinan behind Goncalo Ramos; United with Lammens in goal, a back line including Maguire and Shaw, and Cunha supported by Diallo and Fernandes.
Real Madrid beat Deportivo A Coruña 1-0 to win the Teresa Herrera Trophy, Brahim Díaz scoring, their first win of the trophy since 2013. The result came in a pre-season test with rotating lineups; Mourinho said he’ll limit minutes for some players and that “next week, the real work begins” as Madrid refines tactics before La Liga starts.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola says the squad needs to improve fitness to sustain his high-intensity, front-foot style after a mixed pre-season that saw them squander leads in back-to-back friendlies against Leeds and Monaco; with rotation, injuries, and a new fitness setup, it will take time to fully implement his system ahead of the Premier League season.