Leny Yoro is going through a particularly delicate period at Manchester United. Recruited after impressing under the colors of LOSC in 2024, the French defender is struggling to find his place with the Red Devils, where the confidence placed by Michael Carrick remains quite limited. Already starting only 19 times last season, the 20-year-old player had another complicated start to the year, since he did not start a single match during the first five days of the Premier League. In a Mancunian collective in great difficulty, the young Frenchman must deal with significant competition and tactical choices which do not favor his installation in the axis. Often used as a right-back, which is not his preferred position, he finds himself barred in the central hinge by Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez. Despite this context, he still played eight games this season, including six as a starter, a record which places him ahead of certain competitors at the right-back position, such as Noussair Mazraoui. But its situation remains fragile, while Manchester United struggles to regain positive momentum.
However, a clearing-up had come from the French team. On the occasion of Zinédine Zidane’s first meeting at the head of the Blues, Leny Yoro was called up after the withdrawal of Ibrahima Konaté, initially included in the list. Against Belgium, Zidane started him alongside Maxence Lacroix for his very first selection with the A. A demanding baptism of fire, but the former Lille player responded with a particularly convincing performance. He won his nine contested duels, including five in the air, while posting 93% successful passes. The Blues finally won (4-1) after overturning the match in the last quarter of an hour. For Yoro, this first will remain a success, despite the absence of a clean sheet. Zidane was satisfied with his choice: “There are people in this position, when we lost Ibrahima Konaté, we immediately wanted to take Leny. I’m happy for him, because he had a great match. He fulfilled his role well. I am happy for all these young players in the France team. »
Then the hard return to reality…
But the return to Manchester quickly brought Leny Yoro back to earth. The 20-year-old defender found a team in the midst of a crisis, unable to return to victory in eight matches in all competitions. The defeat against Bournemouth (0-3) at Old Trafford further darkened his horizon. Holder in defense, the Frenchman slipped on the left side of his area, offering an ideal opportunity to the visitors: Adrien Truffert recovered the ball before serving Marcus Tavernier, alone against Senne Lammens. An error which symbolizes the contrast between his performance with the Blues and his difficulties at the club.
Michael Carrick nevertheless refused to damn him after the meeting. “Leny’s slide is unfortunate, he has a promising future and he is a talented player. He made a mistake today and he regrets it, but he shouldn’t have. Mistakes happen, it’s not even a mistake, it’s just a slip”explained the technician. Appreciable support for a young player, but Leny Yoro is far from guaranteed to start at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are also going through a delicate period, but the Red Devils, sixteenth in the championship, no longer have much room for maneuver.
Even fiercer competition among the Blues
To this already worrying situation is added the competition in the French team. His first appearance in the blue jersey demonstrated that he could perform at the highest level, but it did not guarantee him a lasting place in Zidane’s plans. Ibrahima Konaté, absent during the last rally due to an injury, remains a serious candidate, while Dayot Upamecano appears as a reference in the French defense. Maxence Lacroix also scored points during his performance against Belgium and Lucas Hernandez is another experienced option, building on his exceptional match with PSG against Lamine Yamal’s Barça.
Image generation in progress
For Yoro, the next gathering therefore promises to be uncertain, especially since his situation in Manchester does not work in his favor. Zinédine Zidane’s next list will be announced on November 6 at 6 p.m. and an absence of the young defender would not be surprising if he does not find more continuity at the club. But the new coach has already shown that he is capable of trusting unexpected profiles: called at the last minute after Konaté’s withdrawal, Yoro himself is proof of this. He now has to find stability at Manchester United to hope to transform this first burst of brilliance into a real starting point for the Blues.
