Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has advised young centre-back Leny Yoro to be more selective in his on-field challenges, citing physical limitations against Premier League opponents. Speaking on his podcast, Ferdinand said the 20-year-old is 'trying to fight too many fights' when not yet physically dominant enough to consistently win duels.
Yoro has started the last three matches under Michael Carrick and made 27 appearances this season, nearing last year's total of 32. His increased game time comes amid the prolonged absence of Lisandro Martinez, who has been sidelined since early February with a calf injury.
Ferdinand noted that most players Yoro faces, especially number nines, are stronger than him. 'Pick your duel. Which one are you actually going to have if you've got a 60-40 in your favour? Then you go all in,' he advised.
Meanwhile, Martinez recently revealed he considered retirement during his recovery from an ACL injury last season. The Argentina international, who has only featured 15 times this term, credited support from international teammates Alexis Mac Allister and Emiliano Martinez for helping him through the tough period.
