Martinez hails Yoro as 'the future' after impressive Champions League debut start

Lisandro Martinez has declared Leny Yoro the “future” of Manchester United after the teenage defender impressed in a 4-0 Champions League victory over Sabah on Thursday. Yoro made his first start of the season alongside Martinez at centre-back, and the pair kept a clean sheet in the comfortable win.

“Amazing performance from Leny Yoro,” Martinez told reporters after the final whistle. “He played so well defensively, with the ball, being calm, being composed in every situation, one-vs-one. He’s the future of this club, honestly. And we have to help him, you know.”

Yoro had been left out of the starting XI for United’s opening Premier League fixtures, with manager Michael Carrick opting for Ayden Heaven on the opening day against Hull and pairing Martinez with Harry Maguire against Ipswich Town and Everton. The 19-year-old Frenchman took his opportunity against Sabah to make a clear case for more regular involvement.

It marks a fresh start for Yoro after a difficult first season at Old Trafford. He began last campaign as one of Ruben Amorim’s first-choice centre-backs but lost his place in the autumn, ultimately finishing the year with 18 Premier League starts.

Carrick is expected to revert to Martinez and Maguire for the Manchester derby this weekend, though United’s defensive record in the league has already drawn scrutiny — they have conceded two goals in each of their three Premier League matches so far.

Martinez addressed those struggles directly, pointing to a shift in mentality that cost the side late in the Everton game. “I think against Everton, we played to take the clean sheet and then we conceded the goals, and that’s what annoys us,” he said. “It’s really bad, for sure, because we want to be there, and if we want to compete, we have to keep the clean sheet because it’s very important. But today we did it, and we have to build on that.”

With the derby approaching and defensive questions still hanging over the squad, Thursday’s clean sheet — and Yoro’s assured display — will have offered Carrick at least some encouragement heading into the week’s biggest test.