Manchester United defender Leny Yoro faced criticism from former player Gary Neville following a narrow defeat to Aston Villa on March 15, 2024. Despite a spirited performance from United, two goals from Villa’s Morgan Rogers secured a 2-1 victory for the home side at Villa Park. Neville highlighted Yoro’s defensive lapses, particularly in allowing Rogers to score both goals with relative ease.
In his analysis on the Gary Neville podcast, the seasoned commentator pointed out that Yoro’s positioning and decision-making fell short during critical moments of the match. He noted that for the first goal, Yoro failed to adequately mark Rogers, who capitalized by sending a right-footed shot into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Senne Lammens with no chance to intervene.
Neville remarked, “I’ve got less sympathy for Leny Yoro… as the ball went over his head, it was a difficult one for him to control. But when Rogers turned his back and ran towards the touchline, Yoro needed to sprint and apply pressure.” He emphasized the importance of positioning, stating that Yoro should have anticipated Rogers’ intent to revert to his stronger right foot.
The former Manchester United star also expressed surprise at Yoro’s lack of preparation, considering he had previously played a similar role against Bournemouth as a right-central defender. “If you’re a right-sided centre-back, you must visualize how the match will unfold,” Neville stated.
In the 84th minute, Yoro was substituted for academy prospect Shea Lacey, as United sought to equalize. Yoro’s manager, Ruben Amorim, has previously mentioned that the young defender tends to dwell on individual mistakes, which could affect his overall performance.
Reflecting on his own experiences, Neville recalled a time when he struggled defensively against renowned winger David Ginola during his playing days. He noted that such experiences are part of a young player’s development, adding, “It happens to everybody, but I think Yoro could have made it a lot harder for Morgan Rogers.”
Yoro’s performance has raised questions about his readiness for high-pressure situations at the professional level. As he continues to develop, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how he responds to this critical feedback and whether he can grow from these challenging experiences.
