Leny Yoro’s game is already growing under Zinedine Zidane, and training clips are getting lots of attention online.
Zinedine Zidane couldn’t have been happier. “Leny Yoro played really well today,” he said after France’s 4-1 win over Belgium. “I’m very proud of him. He did his job perfectly.”
It was a special night for Yoro, who stepped in at the last minute after Ibrahima Konate got injured. He certainly didn’t let anyone down.
On his first senior game for France, the Manchester United defender stood out as the team’s stars scored goals from Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki, and Michael Olise (2) to secure the win.
Yoro won all nine of his challenges against Belgium and showed great skill with the ball. At just 20 years old, he made almost twice as many passes into the attacking area (18) as anyone else in the match.
He also completed 70% of his long passes, including a neat diagonal one to Bradley Barcola that caught people’s attention.
Zidane seemed keen to help Yoro stay calm under pressure during training, and the young defender showed this by quickly making a smart pass when pressed. Fans online loved that moment.
Now, Manchester United’s coach Michael Carrick is under pressure to give Yoro more playing time after such a strong international debut.
So far this season, Yoro has only started once for the club, during a loss to Brighton in the Carabao Cup. But Carrick looks ready to give him more chances.
“Leny has a bright future and a lot of talent. He’s still learning and growing,” Carrick said last month. “Some players are ready at 18, and Leny has shown he can perform. I have no worries about him.”
Fans are impressed too. One wrote, “Maybe we need more international games for these players to grow.” Another said, “This kind of coaching is what helps players improve.” And a third added, “Thank goodness for Zidane. I’ve been critical of Yoro’s passing under pressure, but it’s clear he’s working on it.”
After the match, Yoro shared his thoughts with Canal Plus. “I couldn’t have asked for a better night,” he said. “Playing at home against Belgium, with my family watching—it was amazing. Of course, we wanted a clean sheet, but a win is what counts. It was a fantastic game.”