Match Report: Rangers 0-2 Manchester United
Manchester United registered a comfortable first win of pre-season with a 2-0 victory over Rangers in Scotland on Saturday, with goals from Amad and Joe Hugill either side of half-time securing an appeasing victory.
The Red Devils’ second trip to Murrayfield Stadium in as many years also saw the much-anticipated first appearance of 18-year-old central defender Leny Yoro, who recently completed a €62m move to Old Trafford from French outfit Lille, in what many supporters consider a major statement of intent from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS entourage.
Jadon Sancho returned to the matchday squad to feature for the first time since September 2023 following an unfortunate public spat with manager Erik ten Hag. The Englishman had spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan at former club Borussia Dortmund and- whilst failing to consistently set the world alight- managed to reach a Champions League final against European champions Real Madrid. Ten Hag opted to “draw a line and move on” pre-match, claiming that the pair have had constructive talks and that “everyone can make a mistake”.
Match Report
First Half
Starting XI: Andre Onana (GK), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB), Leny Yoro (CB), Jonny Evans (CB), Sam Murray (LB), Casemiro (CDM) ©, Toby Collyer (CDM), Mason Mount (CAM), Amad (RW), Jadon Sancho (LW), Ethan Wheatley (ST).
Substitutes: Radek Vitek (GK), Dermot Mee (GK), Habeeb Ogunneye, Louis Jackson, Will Fish, Sonny Aljofree, Harry Amass, Rhys Bennett, Sam Mather, Maxi Oyedele, Hannibal Mejbri, James Scanlon, Ethan Ennis, Joe Hugill, Jack Fletcher.
United had the lion’s share of the possession in the first half, with the visitors having early opportunities via Casemiro’s wide header from a corner and Wheatley’s low blocked effort both before the twenty-minute mark. Wheatley in particular was agonisingly denied following a nice move where he was teed up by Amad from the right-hand side.
The Reds came close to an opener just minutes later when Amad’s teasing left-footed free-kick just went wide of the post; former Man United loanee Jack Butland had seemingly feared the worst at full stretch.
There were one or two nervy moments for the United backline following sloppy sequences of possession, exemplified in the 34th minute when Scott Wright had his shot from the outside of the box saved by Onana in between the sticks. Cyriel Dessers will have perhaps thought he should have done better when his dragged, right-footed strike was easily collected by the goalkeeper.
It was in the 39th minute when Amad opened his side’s pre-season scoring account in quite the nonchalant manner. The 22-year-old Ivorian winger effortlessly cut in from the right wing, making full advantage of the defender’s slip, before finessing a fantastic left-footed strike into the far corner beyond a diving Butland.
Fans had their heads in their hands just before the interval when the goal scorer teed up Sancho in the middle of the eighteen-yard box, but the strike was scuffed high and wide as United headed into the break in the lead.
Second Half
Starting XI: Andre Onana © (GK), Habeeb Ogunneye (RB), Will Fish (CB), Rhys Bennett (CB), Harry Amass (LB), Maxi Oyedele (CDM), Jack Fletcher (CM), Hannibal Mejbri (CAM), Ethan Ennis (RW), Sam Mather (LW), Joe Hugill (ST).
Substitutes: Radek Vitek (GK). Dermot Mee (GK), Sonny Aljofree, Louis Jackson, James Scanlon.
Onana was the only survivor from the starting eleven to come back out for the second forty-five minutes.
The array of changes naturally saw a disruption to United’s flow that they built in the first half. Rangers enjoyed some more possession, but it would be an exaggeration to say that Philippe Clement’s side really brought the game to Ten Hag’s youngsters.
It felt as though United were destined to win the game in the 70th minute when- practically out of nowhere- Oyedele threaded it through to Hugill beyond the last line of defence before the 20-year-old striker struck an emphatic effort onto the under-side of the crossbar to double his team’s lead. The strike was Hugill’s second pre-season goal for the first team, with the first coming in a 2-0 win over Leeds United at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Norway in July of 2023 this time last year.
The Gers responded with their own range of substitutions at the three-quarter mark of the match. Amongst those entering the fray were Danilo, a Brazilian forward who spent a couple of years with Ten Hag at Ajax in the latter end of the Dutchman’s reign.
Ridvan Yilmaz almost set Danilo up for a consolation strike with just a couple of minutes remaining, but the low strike was saved well by Onana following a relatively quiet game for the Cameroonian shot-stopper.
Final Score: Rangers 0-2 Manchester United (Amad 39’, Hugill 70’)
Player Ratings
First Half: Andre Onana (6), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (6), Leny Yoro (6), Jonny Evans (6), Sam Murray (6), Casemiro (6) ©, Toby Collyer (7), Mason Mount (6), Amad Diallo (8), Jadon Sancho (6), Ethan Wheatley (6).
Second Half: Andre Onana (6), Habeeb Ogunneye (6), Will Fish (6), Rhys Bennett (6), Harry Amass (6), Maxi Oyedele (6) ©, Jack Feltcher (6), Hannibal Mejbri (6), Ethan Ennis (6), Sam Mather (6), Joe Hugill (7).
Man of the Match
Amad’s performance in the first half caught the eye of supporters, and rightfully so given his contributions.
The winger looked tidy in possession and often carried the ball well, managing to run directly at the full-back in a manner which many would say is fading in modern football.
Operating as a left-footed winger on the right-wing, the former Atlanta man looked eager to cut inside as an inverting winger. Of course, this was how he set himself up to strike his side into a deserved lead.
Despite his abundance of possession, the goal scorer was not greedy with it, showing intention to assist a teammate in the area on multiple occasions; he was unlucky not to have an assist just before half-time when Sancho skied an effort that looked nailed on to be put away.
The Bigger Picture
Following an underwhelming defeat in the pre-season opener in Trondheim, fans welcomed a tidy Saturday evening victory which will hopefully get the Reds up and running for the remainder of pre-season.
Ten Hag’s more senior players clicked well in the first half, with the likes of Collyer, Murray and Wheatley fitting in comfortably. Supporters are tipping Collyer in particular to be the man to break into Ten Hag’s team this season in the manner of Alejandro Garnacho (in 2022/23) and Kobbie Mainoo (in 2023/24).
Sancho will have surely felt the eyes of many dubious viewers who perhaps disagree with his reintroduction to the side, but the winger barely put a foot wrong on his return. More appearances and squeaky-clean behaviour seems to be the way forward for him in pre-season. One thing is certain- the fans and manager alike hope for it to work, as Sancho at his best is certainly a quality asset to any side.
Wan-Bissaka and Casemiro put in average showings amid exit rumours, whilst Mount will have been happy to get more minutes in the legs as he hopes to hit a stride of maintained fitness before the season strarts.
Yoro’s debut can be considered a success, with the Frenchman looking composed and calculated in his defending, whilst Hugill will look to build momentum in pre-season following his goal.
With a win, two goals scored and a clean sheet, Ten Hag and United will be happy as they head state-side for the US tour.
What Comes Next?
Man United next face Arsenal at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Sunday 28th July at 01:00 (BST) as the US tour kicks off.
After that, the Reds head state-side for fixtures against Real Betis at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California on Thursday 1st August at 03:00 (BST); and Liverpool at the Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina on Sunday 4th August at 00:30 (BST).
After that, Ten Hag and Pep Guardiola meet again when Man United contest Man City in the English Community Shield at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday 10th August at 15:00 (BST).
