Leny Yoro’s Manchester derby performance on Sunday impressed many, and the young Manchester United defender discussed his mentality and role under Ruben Amorim with us post-match.
Still only 19, Yoro joined United from Lille last summer and has overcome two spells out with injury to show what he’s capable of.
After a midweek display at Nottingham Forest which featured some crucial defensive contributions — including a goal-saving tackle on Anthony Elanga — Leny delivered another eye-catching performance against City in the weekend’s 0-0 draw. His driving runs out of defence to initiate United attacks in a tight game were of particular note.
“The three defenders need to control the game,”
Yoro explained in conversation with club media at Old Trafford.
“If I can bring the ball forward for the strikers, for the midfielders, it is good for us, so I try to do it.
“[Ruben] asked me to do it. I am ready to do it and I can do it.“
The stats show as much. Yoro has enjoyed a pass completion rate of around 90 per cent in these two recent games, and anyone watching can see that such accuracy is not down to caution in his play.
“He’s putting in some really important performances,”
reflected MUTV pundit Phil Bardsley after the game.
“He had a slow start to his United career due to an unfortunate injury but we’re starting to see a real player now.”
Yoro accepted that as well as the injury he sustained in pre-season, which ruled him out until December, he took some time to fully adapt to the English game.
“I had a little bit of adaptation when I came, but now it is better in every game,” he said.
“I think in every game I try to be better. I try to help the team and to be at 100 per cent.
“We played really well [against City]. I think we maybe deserved to score one goal. We have the clean sheet and one point but we need to continue like that, we have a lot of improvement now, so we need to continue.”
Two-time Champions League-winning United defender Wes Brown rates Yoro highly.
“He’s really young but everybody straight away expects him to be world class,” Brown said.
“I think he’s showing signs of that. It’s difficult coming to the Premier League so young and dominating, but I think as the games have gone by, he’s got better and better and better.
“He’s athletic, tall, good on the ball and did a few runs on the ball today. He can do that, and he’s doing it against Manchester City, not just any team! The confidence will come in his game and he’ll be more assured of himself in certain areas.”