Match report as second-half goals from Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill earn Manchester United a 2-0 pre-season friendly win over Daniel Farke's Leeds United in Norway; Mason Mount makes first appearance for Erik ten Hag's team
Wednesday 12 July 2023 20:31, UK
Mason Mount made his Manchester United debut as Erik ten Hag’s team kicked off pre-season with a 2-0 win over Leeds United in Norway.
The £60m signing from Chelsea came close to opening the scoring with an ambitious attempt from distance early in the game. But it required second-half goals from Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill to secure victory for the Premier League club.
Under new boss Daniel Farke, Leeds did threaten on the break in the first half through Luis Sinisterra and it needed a big challenge from Hannibal to deny the Championship side. At the other end, Kristoffer Klaesson saved well from the Tunisia international.
Ten Hag removed Mount at the interval with captain Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Jadon Sancho - deployed as a striker - also among those to make way. His young Manchester United team arguably improved as the game opened up late on.
The breakthrough goal came when Norwegian midfielder Isak Hansen-Aaroen expertly threaded Emeran in down the right channel and the 20-year-old French forward opened up his body before firing left-footed past Dani van den Heuvel in the Leeds goal.
Farke had introduced Patrick Bamford at the break but it was 17-year-old Archie Gray who came closest to fashioning an equaliser with a speculative long-range effort that hit the side-netting. Joe Gelhardt could only blaze over when in a much better position.
Manchester United underlined their superiority when Emeran's angled pass into the box found Hugill in space near the penalty spot and the young forward fired home first time. It was a composed finish by the teenager. A positive start to pre-season for Ten Hag.
"It felt very good," said Mount of his debut when speaking to MUTV.
"We have had a week of training so it is great to get that first game. We have been working very hard so it is great to put that into practice on the pitch. We have been working on a few tactics coming into the game.
"I have got a great understanding of how the manager works and the way the boys play. Now it is about using these games to work on it more. It's great to have 45 minutes in the tank. It is a good start, a good win.
"We have seen some good things in the first game," Ten Hag told MUTV.
"You could see we have already trained, and we have a good foundation from last year. Some young lads came in and fitted in. After one week of training, we have seen some good stuff.
"Mason was great for the first time, but we could expect this. He has so many skills and I am sure we will take so much joy from him, he will contribute to our performances, absolutely."
Man Utd host Lyon at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on July 19, kick-off 2pm, before they begin their four-game USA tour three days later.
Leeds' next match comes against another Ligue 1 side in Monaco at Rotherham's New York Stadium on July 22, kick-off 4pm.
Who will be on the move this summer when the transfer window opens on June 14 and closes at 11pm on September 1 in England and midnight in Scotland?
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports' digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on Sky Sports News.
