Ruben Amorim has said Leny Yoro’s behaviour when replaced in Manchester United’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace was unacceptable but believes the 20-year-old “thinks too much” and can grow from the experience.
Yoro conceded the 36th-minute penalty Jean-Philippe Mateta converted to give Palace the lead on Sunday. The defender was replaced on 54 minutes after United equalised and was seen looking disconsolate on the bench. When the team applauded their support at the end of the match, Yoro still appeared unhappy, with Mason Mount consoling him.
Amorim was asked what Mount’s support showed about the side’s culture. “It’s really important,” he said. “I also spoke with him [Yoro] because he thinks too much. He makes a mistake in the game and then he struggles because he’s too young and he wants to do everything so well. He’s growing with games and with setbacks; it’s not easy for him as a young guy.
“He cannot give that [reaction] to the people, the way he came to the bench. He understands that, but he was really frustrated. It shows he cares. He knows it wasn’t his best game, but he did some things well and I showed him that. He’s fit and ready for the next challenge.”
Amorim’s frankness regarding the defender follows similar honesty about Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot last week, when he said the former was anxious when receiving the ball and that both train better than they play.
The head coach was again forthright when discussing Matheus Cunha, who is available for West Ham’s visit on Thursday after a head injury. “He has more levels to go. He is in a different club, different pressure, but I think he copes with that really well.”
Cunha has scored once in 11 appearances since signing from Wolves for £62.5m in the summer. Amorim, still without Benjamin Sesko and Harry Maguire, joked that the Brazilian has been stressed because of social media.
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“He was struggling because he was not scoring and because of social media views he was thinking too much about the numbers,” he said. “The influence he has in the team is so important for us but I think Cunha has so much to grow defensively and offensively.”