In the tense, almost jittery atmosphere of Selhurst Park in their last league encounter, Manchester United’s hard-fought 2–1 comeback against Crystal Palace came with a story inside the story. And not exactly a pretty one.
While fans took to social media to praise teammates like Luke Shaw, others faced backlash for the unstable performance. Young centre-back Leny Yoro, who only turned 20 this year, had one of those moments every defender dreads.
Softfootball reported that a slightly mistimed challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta turned into a soft penalty, handing Palace the opening goal and leaving Yoro looking like the ground might as well swallow him whole.
When he was subbed off just before United equalised, you could literally see the frustration hanging off his shoulders. Head down, slow walk, barely making eye contact – the kind of scene that sticks with a young player for days.
But Rúben Amorim, never one to leave his players twisting in the wind, took a completely different tone in the aftermath in a recent interview, as revealed by Fabrizio Romano via his official X account.
During his press conference before the West Ham match, the United boss basically urged the United fan base to relax and said that mistakes happen, especially when you’re still learning the ropes at this level.
Fabrizio Posted:
Ruben Amorim on speaking to Leny Yoro after he was subbed off against Crystal Palace: I spoke with him because he makes a mistake and struggles. He wants to do everything so well. He’s growing with games and setbacks, it’s not easy for a young guy. He knows it wasn’t his best game.
Since joining from Lille in 2024, Yoro has settled into the backline faster than many expected. His calmness on the ball, clever positioning, and tidy passing have already made him a key piece in Amorim’s rebuild. Of course, he’s still young, and every now and then, the inexperience shows.
It’s normal. And Amorim seems determined to use these moments as teaching tools, not punishments. Reports say he even sat down with Yoro to highlight clips of what he did right, not just what went wrong.
“He’s growing with games and setbacks,” the coach added. “It’s not easy for a young guy.”
With Harry Maguire still out and United juggling injuries across the backline, Yoro remains incredibly important. Amorim’s public backing feels intentional — almost like he’s saying: This kid is part of our future, and we’re not letting one bad night rewrite the story.
For United fans looking ahead, that might just be the most reassuring part.
