Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has reportedly expressed serious frustration with the Red Devils following their disappointing 4-2 pre-season defeat to AC Milan in Wrocław, Poland, with the former forward allegedly directing particularly strong criticism towards Luke Shaw.
The defeat was supposed to serve as Manchester United’s final opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Premier League campaign and give Michael Carrick a chance to assess his strongest possible lineup.
Instead, United surrendered a 2-1 advantage and eventually conceded three unanswered goals as Milan completed a dramatic comeback.
Although Carrick’s tactical decisions have attracted attention since the final whistle, Berbatov’s alleged assessment reportedly focused heavily on Shaw, who started at left-back and remained on the pitch for the entire match.
According to the claims circulating after the game, Berbatov was deeply unimpressed with Shaw’s performance and questioned whether the experienced defender should continue to occupy an important role in Carrick’s starting XI.
The alleged comments attributed to the former United striker have generated considerable reaction among supporters, particularly because of the severity of the criticism.
However, it is important to note that there is no reliable confirmation that Berbatov actually made the alleged remarks, so the reported quote should be treated as unverified speculation rather than an established fact.
What is clear is that United experienced significant problems defensively against Milan.
The Italian side repeatedly found opportunities in wide areas, with United struggling to close down attacks and maintain their defensive shape.
As Milan increased the pressure, gaps appeared between the defensive players, leaving Carrick’s team increasingly vulnerable.
United initially looked comfortable.
Harry Maguire opened the scoring inside the opening minutes when he headed home from a Bruno Fernandes corner, giving the Red Devils an early advantage.
Milan gradually responded, however, and Samuel Chukwueze eventually restored parity before half-time after the Italian side created an opening on the right.
Fernandes then had an opportunity to put United back in front from the penalty spot, but the United captain reportedly failed to convert the chance.
Despite that setback, Manchester United managed to regain the lead shortly after the interval.
Patrick Dorgu took advantage of a defensive mistake to make it 2-1, giving Carrick’s team renewed confidence.
Unfortunately for United, the advantage disappeared quickly.
Milan produced a powerful response and began exploiting the weaknesses in United’s defensive organisation.
Alphadjo Cissé scored to make it 2-2 before Gonçalo Ramos completed another dangerous move by heading Milan into the lead.
The collapse continued when Ruben Loftus-Cheek found space on the left, cut inside and produced a curling finish to make it 4-2.
The speed of Milan’s turnaround has raised questions about United’s defensive preparation ahead of the new campaign.
The Red Devils struggled to deal with attacks coming from the flanks and repeatedly allowed Milan players to find dangerous positions.
Whenever possession was lost, United also appeared slow to reorganise, giving their opponents opportunities to attack exposed areas.
For Carrick, the performance represents an important warning.
United have now completed their pre-season preparations, meaning the manager has limited time to correct the issues before competitive football begins.
The return of several important players, including Lisandro Martínez, Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford, provides Carrick with additional options.
Nevertheless, the manager must decide whether Shaw remains his preferred choice at left-back or whether a different tactical approach is required.
The situation has already sparked debate among United supporters, with fans discussing Shaw’s performance, Carrick’s team selection and the overall strength of the defensive unit.
Some supporters may dismiss the result because it was a pre-season fixture, while others will view the second-half collapse as a warning that cannot be ignored.
Carrick now faces the challenge of turning those concerns into solutions.
If Shaw starts the opening Premier League fixture, his performance will undoubtedly receive significant attention following the criticism surrounding the Milan match.
Ultimately, United’s defeat against AC Milan does not determine how the entire season will unfold. However, conceding four goals after taking the lead twice has highlighted weaknesses that Carrick must address quickly.
The pressure will now be on Manchester United to prove that the collapse in Wrocław was simply a pre-season setback and not an indication of deeper problems waiting to emerge when the Premier League campaign begins.
