Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has publicly offered his support to young defender Leny Yoro, who was visibly upset following his side's comeback victory against Crystal Palace on Sunday, 30th November 2025.
A Tough Afternoon at Selhurst Park
The Red Devils secured a vital 2-1 win at Selhurst Park, a result that boosted morale after a catastrophic home defeat to 10-man Everton just days earlier. Second-half goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount completed the turnaround in a match where United's defence faced a stern physical test.
Central to that struggle was Leny Yoro. The 19-year-old French defender, who joined United from Lille 18 months ago in a £52 million transfer, endured a torrid time against Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. His difficult afternoon was compounded when he conceded a first-half penalty with a rash challenge on the forward.
Amorim's Decisive Intervention and Ferdinand's Response
United manager Ruben Amorim made the tough decision to substitute Yoro just ten minutes into the second half, a move that ultimately paid off as United fought back to win. The young player was clearly distraught, taking his place on the bench and appearing reluctant to fully join in the post-match celebrations.
Responding to an image of matchwinner Mason Mount consoling Yoro, Rio Ferdinand – a long-time advocate of the defender's talent – took to social media platform X to offer words of wisdom. "This game can send you crazy at times…Use these learnings as fuel," Ferdinand wrote. "He’s a young player + will bounce back. Hard work, dedication & his talent is tops. New day tomorrow."
Set-Piece Success and Looking Ahead
Meanwhile, manager Ruben Amorim joked that his team were "stealing" set-piece routines after his side's second-half revival was sparked by two dead-ball situations. Zirkzee equalised from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick, before Fernandes teed up Mount's winner from another quickly-taken set-piece.
The victory marked United's fourth win in seven games under Amorim, leaving them just four points behind rivals Manchester City. The manager acknowledged the learning curve in England, stating, "We learn a lot in the Premier League... and we are stealing a lot of things to score goals."
For Leny Yoro, the focus will now be on regrouping, with the public backing from a club icon like Ferdinand providing a valuable boost in confidence after a challenging week.
