Yoro-vision: How did Leny's debut go?
The headline news on Saturday morning, as United jetted off from Manchester Airport for Scotland, was the inclusion of new signing Leny Yoro in Erik ten Hag's 26-man travelling squad.
We only announced the Frenchman's transfer from Lille on Thursday. He then trained for the first time with his new team-mates on Friday. Might Saturday bring a quickfire debut to delight a packed crowd at Murrayfield?
When the team news emerged at 3pm local time, social media was quickly abuzz: Yoro was in United's starting XI to take on Rangers.
Huge excitement was palpable as the team line-ups were read out on the Tannoy, about 20 minutes before the scheduled kick-off time of 16:00 BST. Three players drew the biggest cheers from the United end: Casemiro, Evans and, of course, the new kid in town: Leny Yoro.
So, how did he get on?
When the team news emerged at 3pm local time, social media was quickly abuzz: Yoro was in United's starting XI to take on Rangers.
Huge excitement was palpable as the team line-ups were read out on the Tannoy, about 20 minutes before the scheduled kick-off time of 16:00 BST. Three players drew the biggest cheers from the United end: Casemiro, Evans and, of course, the new kid in town: Leny Yoro.
So, how did he get on?
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It was only 45 minutes, in pre-season, but it's fair to say that the early signs were good.
During the warm-up, Yoro headed off towards the touchline with Jonny Evans, and the pair spent a good few minutes passing between themselves with two United coaches, in an attempt to mimic the kind of rotations central defenders deliver constantly throughout a match where opponents sit in and invite the Reds to break them down.
There were also a few long aerial passes, which hinted at a more expansive passing range that we might see when the action kicked off.
When the match began – at the delayed time of 16:15 BST, due to queuing delays outside the stadium – Yoro initially kept it religiously simple, concentrating on keeping a linear back four with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Evans and left-back Sam Murray.
A nice tidy pass into the feet of Toby Collyer, in midfield, got the former Lille man going, and he could be seen hanging back a little as the Reds built up possession from the back, so as to always make himself available for the other defenders, and Andre Onana.
After a few early liveners, Yoro then looked to go through a few more gears. He had the crowd – and several in the press box – purring with a gorgeous aerial pass that was floated expertly onto the foot of Murray, who had made a bright, timely burst down United's left flank.
Next, a bit of defending. Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers seemed to have been slipped in on goal, but a nice burst of pace enabled our new no.15 to get back alongside the Nigerian international, and a slide helped him nick the ball to safety. Then there was a lovely feint to slip inside a pressing attempt from the Gers.
As the half ebbed on, and United searched for an opener, Yoro's confidence seemed to grow. He sauntered forward into the final third at one point and, bar one high, hoofed clearance, his passing was crisp and clean.
There was one slight moment of anxiety when Dessers pulled a nice feint while receiving a low centre just inside the area. Yoro lost a yard to the forward's clever piece of deception, but Andre Onana was on hand to collect the fairly tame goalbound effort.
One further pass went between Evans and Murray, and the pair couldn't work out who should collect, leading to a Rangers counter, but Yoro recovered well and blocked the attempt that followed.
90 in 20: Rangers v United Video
90 in 20: Rangers v United
Extended highlights | Watch how the action unfolded as the Reds met Rangers in Edinburgh...
And that, after 45 minutes, was that.
Erik ten Hag changed the whole team at the interval, with the building of fitness and sharpness across the whole squad being the primary aim of pre-season.
But from Yoro, it was a maiden United showing of calm, confident excellence.
Firmer tests await, of course in the depths of the autumn, in the Premier League's more dangerous dens, but this was an accomplished start from a signing that has excited the United fanbase.
Chapeau, Leny.
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