Manchester United bounced back from a first-half defeat to Rosenborg in Trondheim by beating Rangers 2-0 at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The match will be remembered for the debut of Leny Yoro, Jadon Sancho’s first appearance for the club in 11 months and a dazzling performance from Amad Diallo.
United’s starting line-up won the first half 1-0 thanks to a beautiful strike from Amad.
After Erik ten Hag had made ten substitutions halfway through the match, Joe Hugill secured the victory in the 70th minute with a fine goal, assisted by Maxi Oyedele.
CHRIS WHEELER was in Edinburgh to watch Saturday’s game and he outlined five things we learned from the match.
Manchester United beat Rangers 2-0 in a pre-season friendly at Murrayfield on Saturday
Joe Hugill scored United’s second goal of the game with a powerful finish in the second half
Unflappable Yoro makes solid start
Leny Yoro made his Manchester United debut just three days after joining from Lille for £59million, with the teenage centre-back providing the perfect example of why there is so much anticipation surrounding his arrival.
Yoro is known as a Rolls Royce defender who is mature beyond his years and he seemed unfazed at Murrayfield despite the fuss surrounding his move to Old Trafford.
The 18-year-old reads the game so well and that saved United from trouble in the 10th minute when Cyriel Dessers threatened to race through. Sensing the danger, Yoro accelerated to get to the ball first and stab it away from the Rangers striker.
He showed a wide range of passes and carried the ball 50 metres across half the pitch with ease in the 28th minute.
It wasn’t a flawless performance though and he briefly lost sight of Dessers in the 32nd minute, allowing his opponent to collect a cross from Scott Wright and test Andre Onana. Five minutes later he was involved in a misunderstanding with Jonny Evans when Wright seized on Yoro’s miscued pass to set up Dessers, but the new boy saw the danger again to get back and intercept.
It’s been an impressive start for Yoro, both for his temperament and his talent, and there’s so much more to come.
Summer signing Leny Yoro made his United debut by playing the first 45 minutes of the game
Teenage defender Yoro (right) was impressive but not perfect in his first appearance for United
Sancho is back in the red
It seemed like we would see the last of Jadon Sancho in a United shirt after his split with Erik ten Hag, but the truce between the two men gave the England winger a second chance at Old Trafford.
Sancho started on the left at Murrayfield in the absence of Marcus Rashford, who missed this game with a slight knock, and he produced some fine moments despite missing a big chance before the break. Casemiro flicked a pass to United star Amad Diallo who cut inside and this time set up Sancho for goal. The former Borussia Dortmund man initially took the ball on his right foot but fired over the bar.
A few passes went awry but Sancho looked more like himself again, although he was still not the player who helped Dortmund to the Champions League final on loan last season when he was back at his old club.
He didn’t always enjoy going back, but showed great determination in the 36th minute when Sam Murray’s shot was blocked after United awarded a corner on the edge of the penalty area, with Sancho running the length of the pitch to clear any danger.
Another player with more to offer in the pre-season games for the US tour, but just having Sancho back in action for United is a boost.
Winger Jadon Sancho (left) made his first appearance for United in 11 months on Saturday
Amad is a man with a mission
Amad Diallo looked like a man on a mission against Rangers, where he spent six months on loan in 2022. It was no surprise when United’s man of the match scored a stunning opening goal.
The Ivorian kept new Brazilian signing Jefte busy on Rangers’ left in the first half and created a great chance for Ethan Wheatley, but his shot was blocked by Dujon Sterling, who desperately held it off. He then created a similar chance for Sancho.
Meanwhile, Amad scored the opening goal for United in the 39th minute when he received the ball from Mount and cut inside Jefte, who slipped at the last moment. Connor Barron was unable to prevent the United winger’s left-footed shot past Jack Butland and into the bottom corner.
He was sent off at half-time along with the other nine United outfield players and Jefte would have been pleased to see him go.
Amad Diallo (right) watches as his shot curls into the Rangers net
Casemiro still has something to offer
Casemiro’s future has been uncertain since Ineos took over United’s football operations, mainly due to his £375,000-a-week salary and his declining form last season.
When he was left out of the starting line-up for the FA Cup final triumph against Manchester City at Wembley in May and then left the post-match celebrations early to go on holiday with his family, you wondered if we would ever see him play for the club again.
But the experienced midfielder has returned in pre-season looking thin after missing out on Brazil’s Copa America squad and doesn’t look like someone who is resigned to seeing out his career in Saudi Arabia while United continue to explore transfer options.
Casemiro looked lively at Murrayfield and even more so as the excellent defensive work of youngster Toby Collyer allowed him to get further forward. With United tracking Paris Saint-Germain defender Manuel Ugarte, it will be fascinating to see how they deal with the Casemiro situation with Scott McTominay also the subject of an unsuccessful bid from Fulham.
Casemiro was United’s captain for the first half of Saturday’s match and he looked lively
United are open to the idea of selling Casemiro but he could be a key player if he doesn’t leave
Children are okay for Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag did not hold back in criticising his players after United lost in Trondheim on Monday, with Rosenborg conceding a late goal.
But the young players were up to the challenge at Murrayfield, not only holding on to their lead at half-time but extending it further after the break.
Collyer, Wheatley and Sam Murray all looked at home among the experienced players in the first half, before Ten Hag made major changes at half-time.
United manager Erik ten Hag on the touchline during Saturday’s friendly
Dutchman Ten Hag photographed conducting his Red Devils team at a rainy Murrayfield in Edinburgh
The second goal came in the 70th minute when Maxi Oyedele passed the ball to Joe Hugill, who fired the ball into the goal via the underside of the crossbar.
United’s youngsters held their ground against Rangers thanks to a fine reflex from André Onana in the closing stages.
Ten Hag will be very happy with the reaction of his children.