Manchester United centre-back Leny Yoro took away a few hard lessons from his side’s win over Crystal Palace.
While most of Manchester United’s players left Selhurst Park in good spirits, Leny Yoro’s day was not one to remember.
Yoro was replaced just eight minutes into the second half of United’s 2-1 victory, with his side still trailing at that point.
The Red Devils quickly levelled through Joshua Zirkzee, and Mason Mount later found the winner.
The young defender gave away a penalty in the first half, and even though his team recovered, he looked disappointed sitting on the bench afterwards.
Rio Ferdinand offers perspective on Leny Yoro
Yoro, still just 20 years old, has been in England for just over a year. He completed his first full year of competitive football for United against Crystal Palace.
Even the more experienced defenders slip up from time to time and get exposed by pacy wingers or lose focus at crucial moments. It is all part of developing consistency at this level.
A fan shared a picture of Yoro looking frustrated on social media after being taken off during the game. Rio Ferdinand noticed it and responded with some encouraging words: “This game can send you crazy at times… Use these learnings as fuel.
“He’s a young player + will bounce back. Hard work, dedication & his talent is tops. New day tomorrow.”
Ferdinand has long been a supporter of the Manchester United defender, and his comments reinforced this faith in the Frenchman.
Leny Yoro has bounced back before
Yoro faced criticism early in 2025 after a difficult outing against Southampton, but responded well. He established himself as a regular starter under Ruben Amorim, becoming one of the few bright spots in a tough season.
This season, the Frenchman has continued to hold down his spot in the starting line-up, and Ferdinand has backed him to develop into the best defender in the world.
Ferdinand, speaking on TNT Sports earlier this year, encouraged patience with Yoro’s development, noting his willingness to learn and grow from his mistakes.
The incident against Palace was unlucky. He looked to have lost his footing before bringing down his man for the penalty.
Even so, there were positives, including an early block that stopped a clear chance.
This was not a disaster by any means. He does not need to dwell on it. If anything, it is another learning moment – and he will come through stronger as he always does.
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