Leny Yoro helped Manchester United keep a clean sheet on his first appearance for the club, giving Erik ten Hag’s side a 2-0 victory over Rangers in a pre-season friendly at Murrayfield.

The 18-year-old centre-back, who joined from Lille for £58.9million earlier this week, has been linked with Johnny Evans in a starting line-up that also included a winger Jadon Sanchowho returned to United after candid talks with Ten Hag.

Sancho, who fell out with Ten Hag last season after criticism and subsequently returned to his old club Borussia Dortmund on loan, made his first appearance for United since the Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest 11 months ago.

United, who were beaten 1-0 by Rosenborg in their opening friendly of the pre-season on Monday, took the lead in the 39th minute when Amad Diallo cut inside of Mason’s Mountain pass and fired a clinical finish into the corner, before Joe Hugill added a well-taken second from a young colleague Maxi-Oyede‘s through ball in the 70th minute.

Ten Hag, who also went by the name Casemiro, André Onana And Aaron Wan-Bissaka As starters he substituted all 10 of his outfield players at half time, but Yoro was one of the standouts.

The teenager showed his speed and strength to keep pace with the Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers and prevented a potential one-on-one chance and had a lot of possession in the first half.

Yoro even had more touches than any other United outfield player. He also made the most passes, his total being 48, including four successful long balls out of seven.

“For me it was incredible,” he told MUTV after the match. “It was a really good match from the team. I’m happy with my performance and I hope we can continue like this.

“The teammates helped me a lot. The staff, they made me feel comfortable. On the pitch we are together, so for me it’s really good.”

Ten Hag: A much better performance

Ten Hag was pleased with his team’s improved performance after they admitted they had fallen short of expectations in Monday’s defeat to Rosenborg.

“The preparation for the season consists of friendly matches, but I want to win every match. That’s why I was very disappointed on Monday, especially with the performance,” he told MUTV“That is even more important in preparation for the season: the performances.

“You want to grow and that’s what we saw today compared to Monday, which was a low level. Today was much better, especially in terms of aggressiveness, which was much better.

“We were much more out in front and it was a team effort in both halves, so yeah, it was nice to see.”

‘This must be the year for Diallo’

Ten Hag also hinted at a more prominent role for goalscorer Diallo next season, following some eye-catching performances at the end of last season.

“We have to see Amad in a different way,” he said. “Of course he is still young, but he is not inexperienced anymore.

“Last season he had a bad time with bad injuries. Before that he was in the Championship and he had a great season. At the end of last season he had a really good time in our first team and played some good games.

“Now for this season, this has to be the year. It’s great that he starts like this. On Monday he couldn’t play, he wasn’t allowed into Norway, but today he could play and he played a really good game.”

Ten Hag expressed his satisfaction with the club’s summer business so far, with the arrival of Yoro following the signing of Joshua Zirkzeewho has not yet played for his new team after participating in the European Championship.

“It’s very good that we’re also leading the way, we’re very proactive, so (the) leadership is doing a great job at the moment. That’s, I think, how we want to act as United.

“We are very ambitious and you have to be ahead of the game and ready for the season. The sooner you bring in your players, the more you can work on your team.”

Tavernier absent for Rangers

For Rangers, the defeat followed a 2-1 defeat to Dutch giants Ajax in their opening match of pre-season, and much of the attention was focused on a player who did not feature. James Tavernier.

Rangers boss Philippe Clement said the club captain’s absence was due to a fitness issue before kick-off. “He is almost ready to train with the first team,” he said. But his future at Ibrox appears uncertain.

Rangers have had an initial bid for the 32-year-old from Trabzonspor rejected, but the Turkish club are expected to return with an improved offer.

Tavernier, who scored 125 goals and provided 129 assists during his nine-year spell at the club, is also said to have attracted interest from former managers Steven Gerrard and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, at Al-Ettifaq and Besiktas respectively.

Todd CantwellAnother player linked with a move away from Rangers this summer was also absent from the squad. “Todd is training with the team but he’s not ready to play with the first team yet, so he’ll be playing with the second team on Saturday,” Clement said before kick-off.

Clement left Murrayfield immediately after the game to attend to family matters, leaving media duties to assistant coach Alex Rae, who has yet to comment on Tavernier’s future.

“There’s been speculation throughout Tavernier’s time here,” Rae said. “He’s been linked a number of times, there’s been a lot of rumours. We’re just dealing with it as it happens. There’s nothing to report.

“Listen, Tav is an integral part of what we do here and hopefully that continues. For me, his presence at this club is vital. He’s been an integral part of it over the last few years, I think he scored about 20 goals last year, so we’ll see what happens.”

Man Utd’s full training schedule

July 15: Rosenborg 1-0 Man Utd

July 20: Rangers 0-2 Manchester United

July 27: Man Utd vs Arsenal – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, kick-off 5pm local time (1am UK time on 28 July)

July 31: Man Utd vs Real Betis – Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, kick-off 19:00 local time (05:00 UK time on 1 August)

3 August: Man Utd vs Liverpool – Brice Stadium, South Carolina, kick-off 7.30pm local time (00.30am 4 August UK time)

August 10 – Community Shield: Man City vs Man Utd – Wembley, kick-off 3pm

Man Utd 2024/25 fixtures: Ten Hag starts for Fulham, live on Sky

Manchester United will begin the 2024/25 Premier League season with a home game against Fulham, live on Sky Sports, before taking on Liverpool in the opening month of the season.

The opening match of the new campaign will be played on Friday 16 August and will kick off at 8pm.

United travel then to Bright for their first major derby of the season at home against Liverpool The match is currently scheduled for Saturday, August 31st.

The reverse fixture will be played in early 2025, with a trip to Anfield on January 4.

Fans will have to wait until December for the first Manchester derby of the season, away at Manchester City on December 14. The reverse fixture at Old Trafford will be played on April 5.

On Boxing Day, Man Utd travel to Wolvesand they will finish the 2024/25 season at home Aston Villa on May 25th.

Rangers 2024/25 fixtures: Hearts first, live on Sky

Rangers begin their 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season at Hearts on Saturday 3 August, live on Sky Sport.

Philippe Clement’s team play Motherwell at home the following Saturday, but due to delays in the works at Ibrox, the match will be played at Hampden Park.

The first Old Firm clash of the season takes place on September 1 live on Sky Sports Rangers travel to Celtic in a game that could prove decisive in this season’s title race, with Clement yet to claim victory.

The teams will meet again at Ibrox on January 2 – live on Sky Sport – with their final pre-split meeting at Parkhead on March 15.