Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has offered a candid assessment of defender Leny Yoro's difficult afternoon at Selhurst Park, stating the young player "thinks too much" but that his emotional reaction to being substituted "shows he cares."
Penalty Incident and Substitution
The 20-year-old centre-back was at the heart of a pivotal moment in United's 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday. In the 36th minute, Yoro conceded a penalty which was calmly converted by Jean-Philippe Mateta to give the home side the lead.
After United managed to equalise, Amorim made the decision to replace Yoro in the 54th minute. The defender cut a disconsolate figure as he took his place on the bench, an image that was compounded at the final whistle. While the team thanked the travelling supporters, Yoro remained visibly upset, with teammate Mason Mount stepping in to offer consolation.
Amorim's Frank Assessment
When questioned about the incident and Mount's supportive gesture, Amorim did not shy away from addressing Yoro's mindset directly. "I also spoke with him because he thinks too much," Amorim revealed. "He makes a mistake in the game and then he struggles because he's too young and he wants to do everything so well."
The United boss acknowledged that the player's visible frustration on the bench was not acceptable, but framed it as a sign of his commitment. "He cannot give that [reaction] to the people, the way he came to the bench. He understands that, but he was really frustrated. It shows he cares," Amorim stated, adding that Yoro is "fit and ready for the next challenge."
Broader Squad Context and Cunha's Return
This frank analysis follows similar honest appraisals of players like Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot last week, indicating Amorim's direct managerial style. The focus now shifts to United's next fixture, with a boost in attack.
Amorim confirmed that forward Matheus Cunha is available for selection for Thursday's match against West Ham following a head injury. The Brazilian, a £62.5 million summer signing from Wolves, has scored once in 11 appearances so far.
Amorim suggested Cunha has been affected by external pressure, joking that social media scrutiny had caused him to overthink. "He was struggling because he was not scoring and because of social media views he was thinking too much about the numbers," said Amorim, who believes the player has significant room for growth at both ends of the pitch.
The United squad remains without Benjamin Sesko and Harry Maguire due to injury.
