Leny Yoro makes winning start to United career as Erik ten Hag welcomes Jadon Sancho back

Rangers 0 Manchester United 2

New signing Leny Yoro made his first appearance and Jadon Sancho took to the field in a Manchester United shirt for the first time in 11 months in Saturday’s 2-0 pre-season friendly victory over Rangers in Edinburgh.

Both players played the first 45 minutes at Murrayfield before United manager Erik ten Hag changed his entire outfield 10 for the second period of a match settled by goals from Amad Diallo and Joe Hugill.

Just 48 hours after United paid more than £50 million to secure his services from Lille, 18-year-old French defender Yoro was pitched into action, partnering Jonny Evans – a man twice his age – in the centre of defence.

The United supporters among a crowd of 56,574 at the home of Scottish rugby were equally excited to get a glimpse of England attacker Sancho for the first time since he patched up his differences with manager Ten Hag following their breakdown in relations last season.

The 24-year-old spent the second half of last term on loan at his previous club Borussia Dortmund after claiming on social media that he had been made a “scapegoat” following criticism from the United manager.

This was Sancho’s first outing in Manchester red since a substitute appearance in the 3-2 home win over Nottingham Forest on August 26 last year.

With several of their main men unavailable – including new signing Joshua Zirkzee – after their recent exploits at Euro 2024, Andre Onana, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Evans and Mason Mount were among the other notable names in United’s starting XI, along with Diallo, who had a spell on loan with Rangers in 2022.

While the United side had a relatively unfamiliar look to it, Gers boss Philippe Clement sent out a team made up of established names, along with summer signings Jefte, Connor Barron and Oscar Cortes, a fortnight ahead of their Premiership opener at Hearts.

However, as had been the case for the friendlies against Standard Liege and Ajax in the Netherlands earlier this month, James Tavernier and Todd Cantwell remained absent from the squad amid speculation they are close to leaving Ibrox. The club insist both players are still recovering from injury.

Diallo, who made 13 appearances during an underwhelming loan spell with Rangers just over two years ago, broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when he cut in from the right, getting away from Jefte all too easily, and fired a low shot beyond Jack Butland from just inside the box.

Ten Hag, whose side have another four weeks before they kick off their Premier League campaign against Fulham, rang the changes for the start of the second half.

Jack Fletcher, the 17-year-old son of United coach and former Scotland captain Darren Fletcher, and Will Fish, swiftly back in Edinburgh after spending the previous two seasons on loan at Hibernian, were among a relatively inexperienced batch of players entering the fray.

Hugill, 20, sealed the Old Trafford side’s victory with a 70th-minute strike in off the underside of the crossbar.

Rangers vs Manchester United: As it happened . . .

06:47 PM BST

That’ll do it

Thanks for tuning in to this one. We’ll be back here for Manchester United’s tour of America next week.

06:34 PM BST

A strong debut from the new star

06:31 PM BST

Some positivity for the manager

On the win:

It’s pre-season - a friendly - but I want to win every game so I was very disappointed on Monday. The performance is the most important thing - you want to grow. The performance was very poor on Monday but this was much better. We played much more as a team on the front foot, so I am much happier

On the youngsters getting a chance to play:

We have to see Amad in a different way. Of course he is still young but he is not inexperienced anymore. Last season he had a bad time with injuries and before that he was playing in the championship. At the end of last season he had some good times. This year has to be the year. On Monday he couldn’t play but today he could and he was brilliant.

Hugill is a young player and I’m pleased with his performance and that he scored.

On new signing Leny Yoro’s:

It is very good. We are on the front foot and being very proactive [in the transfer window]. Leadership have been very good - this is how we as United want to act. The earlier you get your players in, the more you can work as a team.

On the upcoming tour of America

First we have to make a very good, hard, training week. Of course there is travel to LA which will take one day, and then we will have to acclimatized to the new time. Playing against Arsenal is another step but we will have to build fitness and play together as a team.

06:19 PM BST

Young superstar Yoro speaks after an impressive debut

On making his debut:

For me it was incredible. It was a really good game from the team. I’m happy with my performance and I hope we continue like that.

On being made to feel comfortable at Manchester United:

My teammates helped me a lot and the staff made me very comfortable - on the pitch we are together so for me I’m happy.

On seeing the United fans for the first time:

The fans are everywhere, they are really good with us. Of course lots were here for me and I thank them for their support.

On their upcoming tour in America:

We go to America on Wednesday, we have three competitive games, and the fans will be there in numbers for sure. The team will give everything for the win.

06:09 PM BST

Job done

Ten Hag should be satisfied with that one. There were some promising signs from Casemiro and Sancho who struggled at times last season. Onana looked confident and his distribution was excellent. And it’s always nice to give the youngsters a run out.

06:05 PM BST

Full time

Rangers 0 Manchester United 2

That’ll do it for this one.

Rangers came close at times, but ultimately never really looked like threatening Onana who stood firm on multiple occasions.

It felt like both sides were ready for the referee to blow up at the end there.

Manchester United were comfortable throughout, played some nice football at times, and scored two great goals. Diallo’s first half was by far the stand out performance of the game. Hugill’s goal will be one to remember as well.

06:02 PM BST

88 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 2

Great chance for Rangers to get one back there. Ethan Ennis gets caught out on the left wing and the cross is powered into to the box. Danilo gets something on the ball and forces a fantastic save out of Onana, who reacts quickly dropping down to his right and parrying it clear.

It must be said the Cameroonian keeper has had a fantastic game - his distribution has been impeccable and saves confident.

05:57 PM BST

84 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 2

A nice long ball sent over the top by Sterling towards Matondo who has broken free from the United defenders. Matondo finds himself alone 10 yards from goal but again is unable to control the ball and the chance goes waning.

Although Rangers have lacked the necessary quality when presented with chances, they have been able to get in behind these young central defenders relatively well. Fish and Bennett will need to have a word and sort out their line.

05:53 PM BST

80 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 2

A nice run across the edge of the box from Rangers, but the subsequent cross field ball over towards Matondo is overhit. Groans from the Rangers fans as they feel this game has slipped out of their reach.

05:50 PM BST

77 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 2

The announcer states there are 56,574 fans in attendance - truly impressive for a friendly in the rain.

05:48 PM BST

75 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 2

Now its Rangers’ turn to make an obscene amount of substitutions - eight in total.

Goldson, Danilo, Lowry, and Mcausland are all on whilst Wright, Diomande, Dessers, and Souttar are all off.

05:45 PM BST

71 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 2

Dessers breaks free and is running through just seconds after the game restarted. It’s two-on-one with Matindo providing support, but Dessers’ square ball is hit too hard, and the chance is squandered.

05:43 PM BST

70 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 2

GOAL: What an effort that is by Joe Hugill!

Oyedele picks the ball up in his own half, and gets lucky to keep the ball having failed to nutmeg Lawrence. He drives forward, and then lays a pinpoint pass through to Hugill, who is running in behind the Rangers defence.

He comes onto it and blasts it in to the roof of the net to the nearer post. That was an absolute rocket from the young forward.

05:40 PM BST

67 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

Rangers are finding some success on the right flank this half, as Diomande is played through by Tom Lawrence. He can’t seem to find his balance however, and his cross is wayward.

Seconds later, Rangers recover the ball on the edge of the box, finding Scott Wright. He takes a touch, getting the ball out of his feet, before sending a curling effort just wide of the post.

05:37 PM BST

64 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

The rain is pouring here in Edinburgh causing the ball to zip around the pitch , making it quick difficult to control. This could perhaps explain why the game has slowed down a tad. Nothing to do with United changing their entire team, I’m sure...

05:35 PM BST

62 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

Onana plays a nice ball through the Rangers press to Hannibal, whop finds a bit of space in midfield. He plays a one-two before winning a free-kick on the edge of the box.

Weirdly, that connection between Hannibal and Onana represents the two most experienced United players on the pitch.

05:33 PM BST

59 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

A nice one two by Rangers sends Wright through on the right wing. Instead of driving the ball forward himself, he sends a first time ball into Matondo who looks to have beaten the last defender. Nevertheless, Will Fish, who has spent the last two years on loan at Hibernian close by, got back well and prevented the shot from coming.

That’s his second piece of quality defending, having prevented Dessers run from amounting to anything earlier.

05:30 PM BST

57 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

Rangers win a throw high on the left wing and work it well to Rabbi Matondo. He cuts in onto his right foot, but his curling effort is weak and destined for Onana’s chest.

05:28 PM BST

55 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

Dessers does well down United’s left flank, turning Reece Bennett inside out. He crosses, but it is cleared well.

05:27 PM BST

54 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

Ennis and Hugill link up well down the right wing, with the former sending a chipped ball for the latter to chase. That is dealt with comfortably by Jefte, however.

05:25 PM BST

52 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

In this United side only the goalkeeper is aged over 21 years. Everyone else has come through the academy. Impressive.

05:23 PM BST

48 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

With this new look United team there will undoubtedly be some time needed to break in their boots. Hannibal looks sharp but the pressure of the end of the first half has dissipated.

Rangers have a corner which is cleared only as far as Sterling, whose rocketed efforted is deflected out for a throw. Rangers having more time on the ball here.

05:19 PM BST

45 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

Coming on for Manchester united are: Jack Fletcher, Rhys Bennett, Hannibal Mejbri, Harry Amass, Maxi Oyedele, Will Fish, Joe Hugill, Habeeb Ogunneye, and Ethan Ennis.

Coming off is everyone else.

For Rangers Rabbi Matondo replaces Óscar Cortés.

05:17 PM BST

45 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

United get the second half underway having made ten substituti0ons changing their entire team aside from the goalkeeper.

Rangers have made a measly one.

I will try to get all those changes to you as soon as possible.

05:08 PM BST

Diallo dominates

05:03 PM BST

Half time

The referee calls time on an intriguing half of football.

United will be happy, its not been particularly high paced, but they’ve been comfortable and confident. Diallo is creating chance after chance, Casemiro’s passing has been excellent, and Yoro - aside from one wayward pass - looks imperious.

Rangers shouldn’t be disheartened, however. They’ve created chances on the break and Dessers has managed to get himself on the ball in United’s box on multiple occasions. They will need to test Onana a bit more if they want to get back in this game but, only one goal down they should feel this game is well within their grasp.

05:00 PM BST

44 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

Casemiro plays a fantastic first-time pass with his left foot over to Diallo on the Right wing. He cuts it back to Jaden Sancho just inside the box with nobody around him. He strikes high and wide however and United miss a great chance.

04:59 PM BST

43 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

United looking comfortable having gone one-nil up, pinging the ball around with ease. Wheatley is dropping in and controlling the ball well, helping them get up the pitch.

04:55 PM BST

38 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

GOAL: Mason Mount picks up the ball and drives down the right wing. He finds Amad Diallo who steps inside and whips one towards the far post. It hits the side netting, leaving Butland with no chance. A great goal from the best player on the pitch by far.

04:53 PM BST

36 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

The game is lighting up now. A wayward pass from Leny Yoro is picked up by Scott Wright who drives into the box. He plays Dessers but its a bit too close to his feet, and thus his shot is tempered and saved by Onana.

Another chance for Rangers sends warning signs to the United defence.

04:51 PM BST

35 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

United have another corner following a deflected shot from Casemiro on the edge of the box.

The corner is played to Collyer on the edge of the box whose shot is stopped at source, and Rangers can break. They look to be away, but United track back well and Wan Bissaka can get them out of trouble.

04:50 PM BST

33 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

This is better from Rangers, who fashion their second shot on target of the game. Wright again receives the long ball towards the right hand side of the Manchester United box. His shot is weak however, and Onana claims it without any trouble.

04:48 PM BST

32 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

A nice one-two between Mount and Sancho sends the latter through down the left channel of the Rangers box. He crosses in in the direction of Diallo, who prepares himself for an audacious overhead kick which we are robbed of thanks to a Davies clearance.

04:47 PM BST

31 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

Sterling sends a long ball down the right touchline towards Scott Wright who takes it down well. He works some space and then crosses low into Dessers who is waiting in the box. He controls the ball , pivots, and strikes, but it is hit straight at Onana who claims it comfortably.

04:45 PM BST

28 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

Wan Bissaka pushes up the pitch allowing for Yoro to drift out wide. He receives the ball and finds Wan Bissaka in some space. His one-two with Toby Collyer sends him though but his cross is again deflected out by the Rangers defence. They’re struggling to deal with the threat down their left hand side but are preventing the danger from amounting to a goal

04:42 PM BST

25 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

Some nice football from United sends Sancho through again down the right wing. Jefte is having a torrid time trying to defend against the Manchester wide players.

Sancho’s cross is nodded out for a corner by Ben Davies and United will continue to pile on the pressure.

04:38 PM BST

22 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

Diallo and Mount both line it up, but Amad will hit it and it whiskers past the post to the goalkeeper’s left. It looked like it was destined for the top corner! Diallo is on fire.

04:37 PM BST

21 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

Manchester United get the game going following a head injury check for John Souttar. Casemiro plays Diallo through down the right flank - he is having a fantastic game so far.

Diallo cuts back in and is brought down on the edge of the box for a United free-kick - this is a good chance.

04:34 PM BST

18 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

United earn a free-kick from the corner after Jaden Sancho showed off his flashy feet. Mason Mount sends a cross in which looks like it’s headed for the roof of the net, forcing Butland into a save.

04:33 PM BST

17 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

A nice flick from Ethan Wheatley sends Amad Diallo running through. He charges forward before cutting it back to Wheatley with a great chance to play the ball into the gaping Rangers net. His strike is deflected well however, and it goes out for a Manchester United corner. They really should have scored there.

04:31 PM BST

15 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

Rangers are looking bright here despite United hogging possession . Dujon Sterling makes a nice overlapping run down the right flank, but he is called back for offside.

United get the game going again, with Diallo showing his quick feet in possession earning a foul for his side

Nevertheless, the ‘Gers keep pressing and Jefte wins a foul in a nice position on the left wing. That is sent high and wide by Lawrence who dribbled the ball to the edge of the box before letting fly.

04:26 PM BST

10 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

Rangers break free following a high press from United, forcing the transition foul on the halfway line. They take it quickly, finding Lawrence in stride who looks to play Dessers through. He looks like he’s going to beat Yoro to the ball, but the young defender shows his strength and pace to get in front of the Nigerian forward and time his tackle well, sending it out for a corner.

04:24 PM BST

8 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

A brilliant cross-field ball from Leny Yoro over the Murray on the left wing gets Manchester United into gear. They recycle the ball to Casemiro, who plays it back across the box to Diallo. He takes on his man, gets to the by-line, but his cross is deflected out for a corner.

Casemiro meets the cross but can’t direct it towards the goal.

04:22 PM BST

6 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

Rangers wont necessarily mind United passing the ball in front of them, looking to hit them on the break whenever they make a mistake. Dessers and Tom Lawrence are pressing high up the field looking to provoke a fault they can exploit, but so far, so good for United.

04:20 PM BST

4 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

United are beginning to impose themselves on this game. Diallo and Casemiro are dropping into the gaps in midfield with Evans and Yoro finding them easily. They haven’t been able to break down Rangers’ midfield just yet but look exceedingly comfortable - particularly Yoro whose passing has been silky.

04:18 PM BST

2 mins: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

An early set-piece for Rangers as decisions immediately go against the Red Devils. The new signing Diamande lines one up from the right of United’s box, but it swings past Onana’s near post - he really should have crossed that one.

04:17 PM BST

1 min: Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

Rangers send a ball over the top towards Dessers who receives an elbow from the veteran Jonny Evans who receives a telling off. A feisty start to the game.

04:15 PM BST

Kick Off

And we are now underway, Rangers will kick off.

04:14 PM BST

The teams are out

The teams have returned to the pitch to warm up ahead of the delayed kick off. They should stay out with handshakes now scheduled for 4:10 and kick off at 4:15.

04:06 PM BST

Jaden Sancho returns

Jaden Sancho will start this afternoon after a rather acrimonious start to his relationship with Erik Ten Hag. Having had a positive loan spell at former club Borussia Dortmund, he has apparently patched things up with the boss, and will be looking to show why United paid £73 million for him back in the summer of 2021.

He fell out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad, which narrowly missed out on Euros glory last weekend, and should be targeting consistent game time in the Premier League in order to put himself at the forefront of the mind of whoever becomes the new head coach.

03:59 PM BST

Kick off delayed by 15 mins

Accompanied by a chorus of boos, the stadium announcer had just let us know the that there will be a 15 minute delay to the start of the game as a result of problems getting fans into the stadium. Hopefully we will kick off at 4:15.

03:54 PM BST

The sweet sound of Bagpipes

The bagpipes are played atop the stadium, apparently to the tune of the Proclaimers’ ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)’ - not that I’d be able to tell.

The players are about to come out for this highly anticipated contest and will be met with a typical Scottish Summer’s day: wet and grey.

03:51 PM BST

Upcoming tours

Once the final whistle is blown both sides will be setting off on their pre-season tours aiming to delight supporters across the globe.

Manchester United, like many other Premier League colleagues, are heading stateside where they will meet Arsenal at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles next Saturday. They will also play Real Betis on July 31 and then Liverpool at the Williams-Brice Stadium in South Carolina on August 3.

Rangers on the other hand will travel the north of England, competing against Championship stalwarts Birmingham City and Sunderland, before taking on Union Berlin in the German capital.

03:46 PM BST

Murrayfield plays host

This is just the second time Manchester United will play at Scotland’s home of rugby  - can you remember the first?

It was in 2012, when they took on Lyon in a pre-season friendly. They haven’t played in Scotland for over a decade, with their last foray this far north ending in defeat to Aberdeen at Pittodrie that same year.

03:36 PM BST

Team news

Rangers also lost their opening friendly of this year’s pre-season, defeated by Ajax 2-1 in Amsterdam.

They are looking to improve on a difficult 2023/24 campaign which ended tragically when Adam Idah scored the only goal of the Scottish Cup finals for rivals Celtic.

The manager has gone with a strong side aiming to test themselves against some of England’s top talents.

Former Manchester United backup Jack Butland starts in goal, whilst Sterling, Davies and Jefte keep their spots in defence having played against Ajax.

New signing Mohamed Diomande starts in midfield alongside Nikolas Raskin, whilst Dessers continues to lead the line.

Starting XI: Butland (GK); Sterling, Souttar, Davies, Jefte; Barron Diomande, Lawrence, Wright, Cortes; Desserts.

Subs: Kelly, Budinauckas, Ridvan, Goldson, Matonido, Dowel, Balogun, King, McCausland, McKinnon, Lowry, Danilo.

03:23 PM BST

A new generation

Manchester United have concluded the signing of highly coveted central defender Leny Yoro for a reported £58.8 million including add-ons.

This represents quite the coup for the Red Devils who persuaded the Frenchman that England’s North West was more appealing than Madrid or Paris.

Telegraph Sport looked into the gravity of this statement signing as part of the new era of Ineos management, and how United have exorcised the Varane demons of the last 13 years.

The transfer indicates an improved strategy. Gone are the days of United overpaying for ageing stars, well past their sell-by date. The focus is now on young, exciting talent who will add to the squad’s quality in the short term and provide a return on investment in the future.

The news of Yoro’s capture comes hot on the heels of the announcement of Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee’s move to Manchester. The plan is clear: young, in-form players with lots to prove and room to grow. This is not the knee-jerk scrambling Manchester United that fans suffered for years.

Yoro has been selected in Erik Ten Hag’s starting lineup and will hopefully demonstrate why he garnered such a lucrative price tag.

03:15 PM BST

Team news

This afternoon’s fixture sees a much-changed Manchester United lineup in their final test before they jet off for their tour in America.

Starting goalkeeper André Onana features between the sticks, having not travelled with the squad to Norway.

Aaron Wan Bissaka, Jonny Evans, Mason Mount and Casemiro all started in United’s 1-0 defeat to Rosenborg, and make the starting XI again today. However, Marcus Rashford, the only other first-team player who played in that friendly game, will not feature having picked up a knock.

Amad Diallo and Jaden Sancho both come into the team having been selected in Ten Hag’s 26-man squad for this match.

Young starlet Lenny Yoro will start in defence, having signed for the club this week.

Starting XI: Onana (GK); Wan Bissaka, Murray, Evans, Yoro; Mount, Collyer, Amad, Casemiro, Sancho; Wheatley

Subs: Mee, Vitek, Aljofree, Amass, Bennett, Fish, Jackson, Ogunneye, Hannibal, J. Fletcher, Mather, Oyedele, Scanlon, Ennis, Hugill

03:04 PM BST

A long way to go

Manchester United come into this pre-season friendly with Rangers having lost to Norwegian side Rosenborg on Monday - thanks to a 90+3’ minute dagger.

Although only five first-team players took the field, Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag saw cause for concern.

He admitted he inherited a “no good culture” at United and says he shared Rangnick’s view of the club requiring “an operation of the open heart”.

He made these sobering claims in an interview this week in which he suggested the club were still a “long way” from being able to win the Premier League and Champions League again.

“Rangnick was absolutely right. We’ve been working very hard on that for two years, but he said it just right: it’s a thorough, very complex operation,” Ten Hag said in the second part of a lengthy interview with AD Sportwereld.

‘Our standards still need to go up’

“And I knew when I started that it was going to be a tough job. There are a lot of people who have advised me. Louis van Gaal (the former United manager) too.

“We want this club back to where it was more than a decade ago, to a club that wins the Premier League, which can win Champions Leagues. We are really a long way away from that, I think.

“I think we’ve taken steps since then, otherwise we wouldn’t have won two prizes (the FA Cup and Carabao Cup) either. But we are not yet so far that a ‘winning culture’ already prevails here in all respects. Our standards, our norms and values, still need to go up.”

United will have to up their levels if they are to get a result this afternoon against a much stronger Rangers side.