Leny Yoro has admitted in a Sky Sport interview “little mistakes” are hurting Manchester United after a nightmare week left the club without a win in three competitive fixtures this season. The 19-year-old defender, signed from Lille last summer, did not feature in the shock Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town but conceded that United must improve quickly ahead of Saturday’s clash with Burnley.
Optimism from pre-season and flashes of promise in the narrow defeat to Arsenal have been undermined by a frustrating draw at Fulham and humiliation in midweek. Manager Ruben Amorim, under early pressure, declared after the Grimsby defeat that “something needs to change” — a message echoed by Yoro, who stressed the importance of cutting out avoidable errors.
With Burnley next at Old Trafford, failure to win could deepen concerns over United’s direction. Can Yoro and Amorim rally the squad in time to prevent an early-season crisis?
Yoro: ‘We Need to Cut Out Mistakes’
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Yoro reflected on the turbulent week:
“If we don’t concede these little mistakes, we will win games — it’s just little mistakes we need to change.” — Leny Yoro
The teenager highlighted missed chances against Arsenal and Fulham, insisting United were “unlucky” not to secure victories. However, the defeat to Grimsby reinforced a more worrying narrative — that United lack focus in key moments.
Ferdinand Comparison & World Cup Dream
Yoro also addressed comparisons to Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, who played a key role in convincing him to join last summer.
“When you are compared to Rio, you can only be happy,” Yoro said. “If I can have the same career he did here, it’s not bad! I know him personally and as a player — it benefits me.”
The French defender also revealed his sights are set on earning a first senior call-up for France ahead of the 2026 World Cup: “Of course it’s a dream to play for the France team, especially in a World Cup. I’ll try and do my best this season to achieve this.”
Manchester United 2025/26 Snapshot
| Stat (First 3 Games) | Man Utd |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 3 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Goals Conceded | 4 |
source: sofascore match data – 29 Aug 2025
These figures highlight the urgency. Without a win and with defensive lapses costing points, Amorim’s side are already falling behind early rivals in the Premier League table.
Analyst Verdict – John William
FootballPlace analyst John William believes Yoro’s words reflect maturity beyond his years:
“Yoro has been a rare bright spot in a turbulent United week. His call to cut out ‘little mistakes’ is accurate — United’s issues aren’t structural, but lapses in concentration. Amorim must harness that honesty into discipline on the pitch.”
William added: “United need Burnley at home to be a reset button. Lose or even draw, and the mood could turn quickly. With City and Spurs looming, they cannot afford another setback.”
Key Insights
- United knocked out of Carabao Cup by Grimsby.
- No wins in three games under Ruben Amorim this season.
- Yoro: “Little mistakes” the key issue holding team back.
- Defender compared to Rio Ferdinand, eyes France World Cup spot.
- Burnley clash at Old Trafford a must-win for United’s confidence.
What’s Next for United?
United face Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday in a fixture Amorim has privately labelled “non-negotiable” to win. Victory would ease pressure and restore confidence before a brutal September schedule against Spurs and Manchester City.
For Yoro, every game this season is a chance to cement his place as a starter and strengthen his claim for France’s World Cup squad. For Amorim, Saturday might be less about selection headaches and more about survival.
Should Manchester United keep faith in Amorim’s project, or are early cracks already too big to ignore?
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
First read message
By Adem 29 Aug 2025 19:43
Said it before, Amorim should at least stay until the end of September. I think they'll win against Burnley - easy, I mean they've to and they probably will and if they won't it's the end of Amorim, 100%.
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