- Manchester United clinched their first pre-season victory over Rangers
- Amad Diallo and Joe Hugill scored either side of half-time to seal a dominant win
- New signing Leny Yoro made an impressive debut since joining on Thursday
Manchester United struck twice as they clinched their first pre-season victory with a 2-0 win over Rangers at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Amad Diallo and academy product Joe Hugill got on the scoresheet with impressive strikes as Rangers failed to respond, but it was the performance rather than the score that left Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff happy.
The Dutchman took his squad north of the border for their final friendly before they depart for the summer tour of the United states and celebrated a much-improved performance.
The United boss had previously fumed after his side were beaten in their first friendly ahead of the new season by Norwegian side Rosenborg and was boosted by the arrival of new signing Leny Yoro and Jadon Sancho’s return.
Both were named in the starting side for the Scotland spectacle with Yoro looking surprisingly settled despite a whirlwind 48 hours since he completed his £52m transfer from Lille on Thursday.
Manchester United struck twice as they clinched their first pre-season victory with a 2-0 win over Rangers
Amad Diallo opened the scoring for United with their first pre-season goal after curling a nice finish through a crowded box
Erik ten Hag (right) celebrated calmly with his new coaching team as United impressed
The 18-year-old centre-back was coveted by both Real Madrid and Liverpool before choosing to join United and a youngster that has been hailed as a ‘generational talent’ made a composed debut.
Yoro was given the nod alongside the experienced Jonny Evans in defence and was quick to show his qualities that will go someway to calming fears of any overspend after United splashed out £52m for the Frenchman’s signature.
One highlight saw the centre-back match Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers for pace and calmly slide in to steal back possession much to Andre Onana’s delight, displaying the calmness and poise that was vacant from United’s back-line for most of last season.
Up the other end of the pitch it was another young talent proving the difference with Amad Diallo making his claim for more consistent senior opportunities when he cut in from the right and smashed a shot through a crowded penalty box.
The net bulged and Amad celebrated United’s first goal of pre-season coolly and giving Ten Hag much to consider as he continues to scour the transfer market.
The trip to Scotland also marked a settling of differences between Ten Hag and Sancho as the former exiled star made his first appearance for United in almost a year.
Sancho spent the second-half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund after being banned from the first-team by Ten Hag for retaliating to comments made by the United boss in the aftermath of a defeat by Arsenal.
Yoro (right) starred on his debut as he displayed his standout qualities against Rangers
Academy graduate Joe Hugill (right) impressed as he scored United’s second goal after coming off the bench
The Englishman looked as if he would be sold when he returned – and still could leave – but has since made amends with his boss and was started on the left-wing against Rangers.
A measured return to action saw Sancho naturally slot into his favoured position and was at the core of several attacks, but understandably at times lacked the expected fluidity that comes when you play alongside team-mates more regularly.
Mass changes were predictably made at the interval and a host of youth stars were hauled on with Onana the only senior player completing a full 90 minutes, but Rangers were still unable to find a way back into the match.
United midfielder Casemiro (left) celebrates with Diallo after the winger opened the scoring
Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers (left) suffered a difficult afternoon, while Jadon Sancho (right) made his first appearance for United in almost a year
Hugill will be hoping his impressive strike can earn him a spot on United’s pre-season tour of the United States
Last season’s Scottish Premiership runners-up have been back in training for longer than United’s squad and although they managed five shots on targets, ultimately lacked a clinical edge.
Philippe Clement will want further signings made by the club over the summer and struggling to breakdown what was virtually an academy opposition in the second half further highlights the need for fresh recruits.
Eventually, it was United’s youth that exploited Rangers’ tiring bodies with Hugill using a burst of speed to latch onto a throughball and shoot emphatically into the roof of the net.
Victory wrapped up, United are up and running in pre-season and will now return to Manchester before travelling to America where tougher opposition in the form of Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Betis await.
