Manchester United Face Major Setback with Injury to Leny Yoro

TDT | Manama

Email : hussianm@newsofbahrain.com

Manchester United's difficult 2024-25 season hit another hurdle after their 2-0 Premier League loss to West Ham United at Old Trafford on Sunday, with centre-back Leny Yoro suffering an injury that could jeopardize his participation in the upcoming Europa League final.

The blow was compounded for United as the 19-year-old French defender limped off in the 52nd minute, leaving manager Ruben Amorim with yet another concern ahead of the vital Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur in just 10 days' time. Yoro, who had shown promise since returning from a long injury layoff, was visibly distressed as he left the pitch.

In the aftermath of the match, Amorim tried to remain optimistic but acknowledged the uncertainty of the injury: "We have to assess Leny more thoroughly on Monday. He felt something, but I think it could be a small issue," the manager said.

Yoro had missed the first four months of the season after suffering an ankle injury during the pre-season tour in the United States. Since his return, he had become a key figure in the squad, scoring in the Europa League quarter-final against Lyon and assisting in the semi-final against Athletic Club.

United’s Growing Injury Crisis

The Red Devils' injury woes are mounting as they also face the absence of Joshua Zirkzee and Lisandro Martinez for the remainder of the season. Additionally, Matthijs de Ligt, Diogo Dalot, and Ayden Heaven remain sidelined, leaving Amorim with a thin squad as they approach one of their most important matches of the season.

Sunday's defeat to West Ham, which saw Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen score to give the Hammers their first win at Old Trafford in 18 years, added to United's growing list of woes. The loss was their 17th of the season, with 9 of those defeats coming on home soil.

Amorim's Challenge

Following the match, Amorim was candid about the team's struggles, particularly their lack of urgency in defense. “If you look at the goals we concede, we can avoid them,” he stated. “The lack of energy, of urgency, is the most dangerous thing for this club. We can feel it at the beginning of the game—there's a lack of urgency between our box and the opponent's box. That’s something we have to change."

Despite the mounting problems, Amorim is focused on the Europa League final, though he emphasized that the underlying issues within the squad go beyond one match. “For me, it doesn’t matter if we win the Europa League because the problems are much bigger than that,” he said, reflecting the deeper challenges facing Manchester United this season.