0 tackles, 0 blocks, 0 ground duels won: Another young United star looks to have lost his way due to Amorim’s harsh treatment

Three times Manchester United took the lead, and all three times they were pegged back by Bournemouth on Monday as their wildly entertaining Premier League encounter ended 4-4 at Old Trafford. While there was a lot to like about the team’s attacking intent, defensively, the home side was a shambles, especially in the second half. Ruben Amorim, who has come under fire for his utilisation of Kobbie Mainoo, deserves brickbats for the way he has treated Leny Yoro in recent weeks. The Frenchman was at fault against Crystal Palace, as he gave away a penalty in the first half. He was taken off in the second half and looked devastated at full-time. Amorim’s treatment has had a negative impact on Leny Yoro And instead of trying to help, Amorim chose not to start him in the next two league games with Ayden Heaven preferred in his place. He was ushered back in due to Noussair Mazraoui’s absence on Monday, and with Amorim tweaking things at the back, the ex-Lille ace had to contend with a formation change as well as a lack of match sharpness and confidence. CategoryMetricValue GeneralMinutes Played69 GeneralGoals0 GeneralAssists0 GeneralTotal Shots0 GeneralAccurate Passes23 / 31 (74%) GeneralChances Created0 GeneralExpected Assists (xA)0.01 GeneralxG + xA0.01 GeneralFantasy Points1 GeneralDefensive Contributions7 AttackTouches45 AttackTouches in Opposition Box0 AttackPasses into Final Third5 AttackAccurate Crosses0 / 1 (0%) AttackAccurate Long Balls1 / 4 (25%) AttackDispossessed0 DefenseTackles0 DefenseBlocks0 DefenseClearances6 DefenseHeaded Clearances3 DefenseInterceptions1 DefenseRecoveries2 DefenseDribbled Past0 DuelsGround Duels Won0 / 2 (0%) DuelsAerial Duels Won4 / 7 (57%) DisciplineWas Fouled0 DisciplineFouls Committed2 stats via fotmob That clearly showed as the 20-year-old lasted only 69 minutes against the Cherries. At times, he was the right-sided centre-back in a back three while also having to play as a right-back in a back four. That confusion meant he lost his man multiple times in the first half. The France U21 international lost all his ground duels, and did not complete a single tackle nor make a block. His passing radar was off as well, as the defender completed only 74 percent of his passes. None of his attempted crosses found their mark, while only 25 percent of his long balls went to a teammate. Leny Yoro needs an arm around his shoulders Leny Yoro did complete six clearances, and one interception, while also recovering the ball twice (stats via fotmob). Amorim’s tactical tweak may have led to an increase in his team’s attacking intent, but the backline looked confused at times, which can be expected given the young personnel and the strict adherence to a different style for over a year. The head coach needs to be sure before changing things or more such tennis scorelines can be expected in the coming games. And he needs to get his act right with regards to his treatment of young stars. Leny Yoro needs an arm around his shoulders at this stage, especially with Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire currently sidelined. Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25