![\"Leny](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_GettyImages-2227792249.jpg\")
Leny Yoro has made a strong start to pre-season.(Image: Daniel Bartel – Premier League\/Getty Images.)<\/p>\nCentre-back Leny Yoro has made a really encouraging start to Man United’s pre-season tour of the United States.<\/p>\n
George is a Senior Football Writer for the Manchester Evening News, mostly covering Manchester United. He previously worked for football.london before joining the MEN team in July 2021. As well as covering United, George is a Championship-enthusiast and co-hosts The Championship Chat Podcast (@Champchatpod24), which you can find on all major podcast platforms.<\/p>\n
Leny Yoro has made a strong start to pre-season.(Image: Daniel Bartel – Premier League\/Getty Images.)<\/p>\n
Few players impressed in Manchester United colours towards the end of last season more than Leny Yoro.<\/p>\n
The centre-back, who arrived from Lille in July last year, went from strength-to-strength in the second half of the campaign and it was not long before United<\/a> fans were drooling over his potential.<\/p>\n When it was confirmed he had made the starting XI for the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao, it gave United a shot in the arm ahead of kick-off. Unfortunately, his presence at the back did not improve their attacking efforts.<\/p>\n Yoro<\/a> experienced a stop-start debut campaign at Old Trafford because of injury issues. He did not make his competitive debut for the club until December after fracturing his metatarsal in the opening game of their pre-season tour of the United States last July.<\/p>\n Just over a year after his premature exit against Arsenal in Los Angeles, Yoro is reminding United’s stateside supporters of what they missed out on last summer.<\/p>\n After starting United’s goalless draw with Leeds United in Stockholm on the bench, he has started the opening two games in the US, helping United beat West Ham United (2-1) and most recently Bournemouth (4-1). He has occupied the right-sided centre-back spot on both occasions.<\/p>\n Plenty of caveats have to be taken into account when making judgements on pre-season friendlies, but there is no doubt United have been sharp and enjoyable to watch. They have played with an excellent tempo and plenty of purpose.<\/p>\n There is also no doubt they are benefitting from their first pre-season under head coach Ruben Amorim<\/a>, who arrived at Old Trafford last November and immediately switched to a three-at-the-back formation. The team has been balanced and everyone understands their roles.<\/p>\n Keen to build through the thirds, there is plenty of expectation on the shoulders of United’s centre-backs, particularly those who occupy the two wide berths. Yoro and Ayden Heaven started in those positions against West Ham and Luke Shaw<\/a> came in to replace the latter for the win over Bournemouth in Chicago.<\/p>\n After playing a couple of really eye-catching cross-field passes during the win over West Ham, helping United get on the front foot and up the pitch in next to no time, Yoro was similarly attack-minded against the Cherries, showing an eagerness to get on the ball and drive up the pitch.<\/p>\n Yoro is very comfortable on the ball and his desire to get up the pitch when in possession cannot be faulted. Amorim wants ball-plying defenders in his ranks and Yoro fits the bill, likewise Heaven.<\/p>\n The Frenchman, who can operate on either the right or the left of the back-three, demonstrating last season that he is comfortable on his unnatural side, is highlighting he wants to become an aggressive centre-back that can get on the ball and advance. And that is something he has already set himself as a personal goal for the coming season.<\/p>\n “Maybe I would say sometimes the aggressiveness,” he told Rising Ballers<\/a> earlier this summer. “I think I can be more aggressive because with the ball, I need to improve, of course, but I think I’m good [when in possession].”<\/p>\n Yoro’s assertiveness on the ball was particularly noticeable against Bournemouth. He wanted to get the ball played into his feet and advance, regularly crossing the halfway line to occupy attacking positions.<\/p>\n As already documented, caveats have to be accounted for in pre-season, and the time and space Bournemouth afforded United at Soldier Field is unlikely to be the same once the competitive action starts later this month.<\/p>\n The countdown is on to the 2025\/26 Premier League campaign – and our pre-season guide<\/a> is the ideal way to prepare for the action ahead.<\/p>\n As well as in-depth analysis and opinion on your club, we turn the spotlight on every team battling for top-flight glory – or simply survival in the toughest league in the world!<\/p>\n Also full fixtures guide so you don’t miss a game in what is set to be a thrilling season.<\/p>\n![\"Leny](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_GettyImages-2227126004.jpg\")
Leny Yoro has been excellent so far this pre-season.(Image: Jacek Boczarski\/Anadolu via Getty Images.)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_manchester-united-pre-season-guide-2025-26-4863-1-p.jpg\")
KICK OFF – Man United pre-season guide 2025\/26<\/p>\n