Manchester United’s pre-season took them to Murrayfield on Saturday, where Erik ten Hag beat Rangers 2-0.
The big news ahead of the match is that new signing Leny Yoro is in the starting eleven, and it only took 10 minutes for the French defender to show his qualities, with the 18-year-old surpassing Cyriel Dessers as a seasoned professional.
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United took the lead after 39 minutes thanks to a well-taken goal from Amad, before Joe Hugill made it 2-0 midway through the second half.
Mark Critchley discusses the main talking points of a successful 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 also has some of that Vidic signature aggression, judging by a grab midway through the first half that took out two Rangers players at once.
But he’s also a young centre-back capable of betting the cross-court pass that sent Sam Murray loose down the left, as well as the last-minute interception to deny Dessers a pass minutes later.
There were some minor flaws. A missed cross pass gave Dessers a chance, Yoro atoned and blocked. He was also switched smoothly through Dessers at one point, and the Rangers striker managed to unleash a shot that went through Andre Onana.
Regardless of the spaces he wants to improve, they like his many strengths to be compatible with the context in which he is only 18 years old and does not get out of position even once.
With this clever first impression, United fans can get excited, if some of them weren’t already.
When Amad returned to Carrington’s education flat after an uninspiring loan spell at Rangers to be placed under a new manager, it’s fair to say Ten Hag still needed some conviction.
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In reality, that was until the end of last season, when the 22-year-old made his Premier League debut with Ten Hag despite everything. Two more followed, in addition to a goal, and ended the unfortunate crusade by not playing an FA Cup final.
Was this the year in which, despite everything, Amad’s career at United took off?Against his former club, he provided most of the highlights of the first half, and not just the first goal, which was a brilliant shot that crossed Jack Butland’s frame after an inside Slalom from the right.
A past liaison match with Ethan Wheatley was precisely about the kind of move the fleet made and the idea that was missing from United’s attack this season.
But this offense is full of talent. The fight for a place is fierce, but in reality Amad will now have to win the Ten Hag round.
It’s a situation to start his second pre-season game, but Ten Hag was looking for and needed a reaction after giving an unfettered assessment of United’s functionality in the 1-0 defeat to Rosenborg on Monday.
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As harsh as this complaint may seem, it provoked the desired response. The 56,574 fans at Murrayfield (at least a portion of whom were here to watch United) watched as their side set the tone in a dominant first half and then countered well once Ten Hag made significant adjustments in part-time.
Toby Collyer, one of the teenagers brought in during the break in Norway, started here alongside Casemiro in a double pivot and impressed, covering the Brazilian’s looser moments with intense runs and power on and off the ball.
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Midfield is now the only prominent position at the start of the summer that still wants to be strengthened, but finances were tight even before the signings of Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee. As with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo before it, it’s not like United have to turn to the academy for cover. Collyer did nothing to hurt his cause.
We tell you. Ten Hag speaks after the match.
Sunday, July 2/Saturday, July 27 (United States): Arsenal, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California, 1 a. m. (GMT), p. m. (ET)