2024-07-21 03:10:02
Manchester United’s pre-season took them up to Murrayfield on Saturday, with Erik ten Hag’s side beating Rangers 2-0.
The big pre-match news was that new signing Leny Yoro was in the starting XI, and it only took the French defender 10 minutes to show his quality, with the 18-year-old outmuscling Cyriel Dessers like a seasoned pro.
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United took the lead after 39 minutes via a well-taken goal from Amad, before Joe Hugill made it 2-0 midway through the second half.
Mark Critchley breaks down the key talking points from a satisfying afternoon in Edinburgh…
Leny Yoro was the last out of the tunnel as he emerged onto the Murrayfield pitch, hanging back to soak in the moment he stepped out onto a pitch in a United shirt for the first time, wearing his new squad number: Nemanja Vidic’s old No 15.
He has some of that trademark Vidic aggression too, judging by one tackle on the stretch midway through the first half that took out two Rangers players at one time.
But this is also a young centre-half capable of playing the type of raking cross-field pass that sent Sam Murray free down the left, as well as the commanding last-ditch interception to stop Dessers going through minutes later.
There were a couple of minor blemishes. One stray cross-field pass produced a chance for Dessers, though Yoro atoned and blocked. He was easily turned by Dessers at one point too, with the Rangers striker able to get a shot off that Andre Onana held.
Whatever areas he may need to improve on, though, they like his many strengths come within the context of him being just 18 years old and not once looking out of place.
Based on this very good first impression, United supporters can get excited, if any of them weren’t already.
When Amad returned to Carrington training ground from a rather uninspiring loan spell at Rangers to find himself under a new manager, it is fair to say that Ten Hag still required some convincing.
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In truth, it still felt that way right up until the final stages of last season, when the 22-year-old finally made his first Premier League start under Ten Hag. Two more followed, so did a goal, and he ended the campaign unlucky not to get on in an FA Cup final.
Is this the year Amad’s United career finally kicks into gear? Against his former club, he provided most of the first half’s highlights — and not just the opening goal, which was a brilliant shot across Jack Butland’s body after a slalom inside from the right.
One earlier bit of link-up play with Ethan Wheatley was exactly the type of fleet movement and thinking that United’s attack often missed that season.
That attack is filled with talent, though. Competition for a place out wide is fierce, but Amad must now surely be winning Ten Hag round.
It is an unusual state of affairs in which to start your second game of pre-season, but Ten Hag wanted and needed a reaction having not held back in his assessment of United’s display in the 1-0 defeat to Rosenborg on Monday.
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As harsh as that criticism seemed, it elicited the desired response. The 56,574 at Murrayfield — at least half of them here to see United — watched his side set the tone during a dominant first half, then counter-punch effectively once Ten Hag made wholesale changes at half-time.
Toby Collyer was one of the youngsters introduced at the break in Norway but started here alongside Casemiro in a double pivot and impressed, covering for the Brazilian’s looser moments with hard running and energy on and off the ball.
Midfield is now the one position highlighted at the start of the summer that is still waiting to be reinforced but finances were tight even before the signings of Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee. As with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo before, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that United have to dip into the academy for cover. Collyer has done nothing to hurt his cause.
We will bring you this once Ten Hag has spoken after the match.
Sunday, July 28/Saturday, July 27 (U.S.): Arsenal, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California, 1am (GMT), 8pm (ET)
(Top photo: Getty Images)
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