Redknapp slams Yoro and Heaven as Man Utd squander 2-0 lead to lose Carabao Cup tie to Brighton

Manchester United collapsed from 2-0 up to lose 3-2 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup third round at Old Trafford, with Jamie Redknapp publicly calling out teenagers Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven for their defensive failures in the build-up to the equaliser.

United had raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening ten minutes before Brighton began their comeback. The turning point came when Pascal Gross was allowed to advance unchallenged into the box. Heaven was badly out of position as Brighton broke forward, leaving Gross free, while Yoro switched off and allowed his man to drift unmarked.

Analysing the moment, Redknapp was unsparing in his assessment. “Ayden Heaven now has to sense the danger — he has to get across and sprint 20 yards to the centre midfield player that’s going to score there, Pascal Gross,” he said. “Instead, he’s on his heels, he doesn’t anticipate the danger. Leny Yoro does really poorly as well. Look at him — he comes across, then how easy is that for Gross to score. This isn’t a five-a-side competition, this is a big competition.”

Redknapp also issued a stark warning to both players about their long-term futures at the club. “You’ve got to go, you’ve got to be aggressive — both of them showed their inexperience, and if that doesn’t change, they won’t play for Man United regularly,” he said. “I don’t care what the price tag is on them. That summed it up for me — that was the difference between Brighton’s defending and theirs.”

Just five minutes after Gross’ equaliser, substitute Maxim De Cuyper completed Brighton’s turnaround to seal a 3-2 win and eliminate United from the competition.

Manager Michael Carrick refused to deflect blame onto the squad he inherited, saying: “The team’s on me — when we win, people say I’m doing a good job, and if we don’t get results, then a lot of it’s on me. I accept that, I’m not hiding away from it.” The defeat raises fresh questions about Carrick’s position, having now seen a commanding lead dissolve into an early cup exit at home.