Matthijs de Ligt’s powerful “advice” to one Manchester United teammate couldn’t be more important after the Crystal Palace match at Selhurst Park at the weekend.
Manchester United defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 on Sunday afternoon and the Red Devils successfully bounced back from their 1-0 defeat to 10-man Everton.
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However, the Red Devils had their work cut out for them on their visit to Selhurst Park, with Palace dealing the first blow to United in the first half of the contest.
Jean-Philippe Mateta dispatched a penalty past Senne Lammens to put the Eagles in control of the Premier League clash going into half-time at Selhurst Park.
However, Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee came to United’s rescue on Sunday and the pair both scored in the second half to seal the Red Devils’ comeback win.
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Bruno Fernandes, Patrick Dorgu, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Senne Lammens, Casemiro and Diogo Dalot applaud the fans after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park in 2025 in London, England.
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Matthijs de Ligt’s words to Leny Yoro are a powerful reminder for the Man Utd defender after the Crystal Palace match
Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro both started in the three-man backline of Ruben Amorim’s tactical system for Manchester United alongside teammate Luke Shaw.
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Luke Shaw, De Ligt and Leny Yoro faced no easy task in the first half after Crystal Palace made a strong start at Selhurst Park and piled on the pressure for United.
Yoro was at fault for Palace’s first-half opener after the 20-year-old brought down Jean-Philippe Mateta in the challenge that resulted in the penalty against United.
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The defender struggled to bounce back from his first-half performance and Ruben Amorim pulled Yoro off in the 54th minute and replaced him with Noussair Mazraoui.
Yoro was spotted on the bench and appeared crestfallen after the TV cameras panned to him when he was withdrawn from Sunday’s 2-1 win at Selhurst Park.
De Ligt had already suggested that the French centre-back is a real “talent,” but the former Ajax defender predicted that Yoro needed to improve his mental edge.
“He has all the tools to become an amazing defender, [so] I think it’s mental,” he told United Review in 2024, as per Manchester United’s official website.
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Matthijs de Ligt’s advice is timeless and Leny Yoro must now turn to it more than ever after his Man Utd display
Leny Yoro’s disappointment at the weekend haunted the United centre-back all the way up to the full-time whistle in the Palace match and beyond at Selhurst Park
The former Lille star could be seen walking with his hood up when Red Devils players showed their appreciation for the travelling United fans on Sunday.
Mason Mount showed class to Yoro by appearing to reassure him by patting him and verbally communicating something to the crestfallen United defender.
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Jean-Philippe Mateta is fouled by Leny Yoro, which resulted in a penalty during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park in 2025 in London, England.
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De Ligt’s 2024 remarks about Yoro are only more powerful for the fact that the 26-year-old Netherlands international told him what is “really important” for him.
“What I would give to him as advice is to always stay close to himself and to try to learn,” he continued.
“That’s really important for a young player. You can’t be so focused on winning that you’re not improving as a player anymore.”
Rio Ferdinand sent an important message to Yoro and the United talent’s setback against Palace is only short term as long as he can move forward and develop.