two players rose above the noise: Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt.
Forget the scoreline for a moment. What we witnessed from these two wasn’t just defending it was leadership, resilience, and a glimpse into United’s future.
Leny Yoro (19 years old):
This wasn’t a teenager finding his feet, this was a generational defender in the making. In the first half alone, Yoro completed 30 passes, more than Arsenal’s Gabriel and Saliba combined. Across 90 minutes, he was flawless:
60+ passes at 91% accuracy
Dominant in the air, winning every aerial battle
Key clearances, vital interceptions, crunching tackles
Every action screamed maturity beyond his years. He didn’t just survive the test he imposed himself on one of the league’s toughest attacks.
Matthijs de Ligt:
If Yoro was the rising star, de Ligt was the commander. Almost 90% passing accuracy, over 50 passes completed, countless defensive interventions, aerial duels won, vital blocks, and even a couple of efforts pushing forward. He was everywhere calm on the ball, ruthless without it, and a true leader at the back. On a night where many struggled, he was undeniably United’s man of the match.
The result may sting, but Yoro and de Ligt showed fight, composure, and heart. Performances like these prove that while the present may be shaky, the future of Manchester United’s defence is already here.
