Leny Yoro’s shining performance helped Manchester United keep a clean sheet, as Rúben Amorim’s men drew 0-0 with Man City.
With the Manchester derby ending level, both sides failing to score, and neither side managing an expected goals of over 1.00, there was little to be excited about from an attacking perspective.
Ruben Amorim, however, can come out of the game happy that he came away from all three of his clashes with Manchester City this season undefeated.
His first win against them came in his final Champions League game as Sporting Lisbon manager. He then beat Pep Guardiola’s side in December in his first derby for Manchester United after Amad Diallo scored a 90th minute winner.
Although there was no goals the match did provide some impressive defensive displays with strong performances from Noussair Mazraoui and Harry Maguire.
However, one of the standout defensive performances was Leny Yoro who has impressed since joining from Lille in the summer.
Yoros’s impressive defensive performance
Yoro was crucial in keeping a clean sheet against Pep Guardiola’s side as he successfully completed three interceptions, the most of any player from either team.
The French teenager also looked impressive in possession as he achieved the 3rd most passes for United with 39 completed with an 89% pass success rate.
Only Bruno Fernandes and Mazraoui managed more successful passes, each with 40.
Yoro’s interceptions and reliability at the back largely contributed to Manchester City only achieving 0.49xG despite having 58% possession.
A versatile display from Yoro suggests a promising future
One of Yoro’s most impressive moments came at the opposite end of a pitch where, after attacking a header, he ran the entire length of the pitch in rapid time to get back in position to defend the City counter attack.
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At only 19 years of age, Yoro is still developing, but seeing this diversity in his game is promising for the future. Yoro posing a threat on set pieces will be beneficial for United, especially with the lack of goals this season.
It is clear that, as the young star continues to develop his game at Old Trafford, he is developing himself into a “superb footballer” for the future of the club.
With Yoro’s defensive and attacking abilities improving week on week he is clearly a smart signing by INEOS and for an initial fee of £52.9 million he is looking like value for money.
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