Manchester United took a step back from their Arsenal performance in the draw against Fulham, but one player keeps taking huge steps forwards.
Ruben Amorim remains optimistic about Man Utd’s chances this season after two games where the team has at least created chances, even if they haven’t been taken.
However, with two eminently winnable games coming up before a gauntlet against Chelsea, Man City, and away to Brentford, the pressure is ramping up.
He will take solace from the fact that he can at least continue to rely on one player who has been consistently excellent. He will soon be among the best in the world.
Leny Yoro of Manchester Utd celebrates with Bryan Mbeumo, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw after he scored
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Leny Yoro’s 53rd-minute moment vs Fulham
It was the 53rd minute of the game, with the game hanging in the balance at 0-0.
Man Utd had already missed a penalty via Bruno Fernandes by then, and they needed a response in the second half.
However, it was Fulham who had the best chance at that moment, with Josh King running clean through on goal after an aerial ball.
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Nobody gave Leny Yoro the memo. He stretched his long limbs and executed an inch-perfect tackle from behind as the last man.
The ball bounced away from King, and five minutes later, Yoro was forcing Fulham’s own goal by heading at Rodrigo Muniz, causing the ball to deflect and give United the lead.
That five-minute passage of play summed up Yoro’s leap this season. Ruben Amorim has tipped Yoro to become one of the best in the world already, and the Fulham game was another in his superstar ascent.
His highlight reel of last-man tackles includes a similar challenge at Anfield, and Amorim’s claim was second to Rio Ferdinand, who has tipped Yoro for greatness as well.
That leap is coming quicker than most realised. Yoro is ascending to superstar status in real time. Doing that in a struggling team is all the more unbelievable.
Man Utd will need to match Yoro’s expectations
Yoro’s signing was a coup for Man Utd the moment he put pen to paper on his contract, with Ineos breaking their transfer philosophy to sign him.
Those assertions are quickly becoming true, since Yoro is taking the leap to superstardom in a difficult league in a struggling team.
The latter part should worry Man Utd, because their coup will count for nothing if the club continues to struggle, and, in turn, fails to live up to what Yoro wants to achieve.
Feasibly, the Frenchman could be in a position by the end of the season where he can walk into the first XI of most clubs in European football.
Real Madrid’s interest never dies, it only rests, as United know all too well with Cristiano Ronaldo. If United continues to struggle, then Yoro will get itchy feet soon.
It’s a good problem to have for once, that their player might be “too wanted” by other clubs. But it’s a problem all the same, especially if the club can’t get its act together.