Yoro made his debut for France's national team in their comeback victory against Belgium, and while TA believes he still possesses enormous potential, fans are demanding he return to Manchester United's starting XI.

If everything had gone according to plan, Leny Yoro would not have made his France debut during this international break.

Zinedine Zidane called upon Yoro as a late substitute due to an injury to Real Madrid's Ibrahima Konaté. For the 20-year-old, this felt like a turning point, as his career at Manchester United has been disrupted by injuries, managerial changes, and tactical shifts. Ultimately, Yoro played a full 90 minutes, helping France come from behind to defeat Belgium 4-1, securing a three-point lead in Group A1 of the UEFA Nations League.

Substitute players including France's star attackers ensured victory, with Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki, and Michael Olise (who scored two goals) all finding the back of the net. However, Yoro's performance was equally vital: in the 81st minute, his lobbed pass found Olise, who cleverly laid a low cross for Cherki to score, putting France ahead. This was no fleeting moment of luck.

Yoro's first touch after coming on was a long pass to the left wing, a style he maintained throughout the match, boasting the highest long-pass accuracy among all outfield players. Playing as right center-back alongside Chelsea's Maxence Lacroix, he made 18 passes into the attacking third, nearly double that of any other player (Koundé and Eduardo Camavinga followed with 10 each). For a debutant at international level, his crucial role in orchestrating France's attacks was remarkably impressive.

Without the ball, he was equally assured, executing several aggressive defensive tackles. In one instance, Belgium launched a counterattack, and midfielder Hans Vanaken received the ball, expecting space to advance or deliver a long pass. With France attacking, their defense was vulnerable. Yoro proactively pressed Vanaken, quickly dispossessing him, and immediately transitioned to attack, pushing forward into an advanced position to receive a return pass.

In the second half, his high pressing directly disrupted Belgium's attacking potential, constantly unsettling Charles De Ketelaere and forcing him back into his own half.

This proactive pressing style inherently carries risk, yet Yoro's positioning and timing for his tackles were impeccable. Behind his brilliant display lay solid fundamental skills. Although questions have been raised about Yoro's aerial ability and potential struggles in tight header duels, he cleverly leveraged his strengths against Romelu Lukaku in this match. Rather than marking the striker tightly and attempting to disrupt him, he prioritized positioning for aerial duels.

The most striking aspect of Yoro's performance in this match (and part of why this has become a point of contention) was his composure under pressure. Despite the significance of the occasion and France's unexpected deficit, he remained unflustered.

With 20 minutes remaining and the team trailing 0-1, he was seen instructing Koundé to play a forward pass; when that passing lane was blocked and the ball returned to his feet, facing De Ketelaere's high-intensity press, he did not panic. He glided past his marker and delivered an accurate through ball that sliced open the defense to find Koundé.

Yoro played with the maturity and composure of a seasoned international. French fans witnessing this debut might be bewildered if they checked his club performances this season: this player has yet to start a Premier League match this season. The French center-back has only played full 90 minutes in the Champions League against Shabak and the League Cup against Brighton, accumulating just 29 minutes as a substitute in the league.

His career at Manchester United has not run smoothly. The manager who signed him, Erik ten Hag, was sacked before Yoro could play for him. Yoro suffered a foot injury during preseason training in 2024, and by the time he recovered, the club had a new manager. Under Rúben Amorim, he received more playing time in a three-center-back system; under Michael Carrick, his only consistent appearances came this spring during Lisandro Martínez's injury absence.

When asked in a preseason interview whether Manchester United fans would see the best of him this season, Yoro responded: "I hope so. I had a good season last year, but I know I can do better—I know my potential."

"Sometimes people forget that I'm only 20 years old. I still love to learn and want to keep developing."

Yoro's brilliant international debut has prompted many online fans to call for Manchester United to restore him to the starting lineup. While understandable, it also explains why Carrick remains cautious.

Yoro has had good performances for Manchester United, but he can also struggle against strong, powerful strikers. Young center-backs will inevitably make mistakes as they develop, but at Manchester United, such errors are often met with little tolerance. After one error against Brighton, a collective groan echoed through Old Trafford. Pundit Jamie Redknapp criticized both him and Aidan Haven harshly for their defending on Brighton's equalizing goal.

Carrick and his coaching staff need to strike the right balance: pushing Yoro out of his comfort zone to accelerate his development without shaking his confidence. In certain matches, the focus may not be on one-on-one physical duels but on covering space within the defensive structure. A partnership with Harry Maguire might suit him better than with Martínez—Maguire could provide complementary physical strength.

There is also a pragmatic aspect: for the established and well-regarded Zidane, playing Yoro carries virtually no risk. But for Carrick, every tactical decision is scrutinized intensely; once deemed a reckless and unnecessary risk after a match, the pressure on him only increases.

It's worth noting that while many are now calling on Carrick to start Yoro in the upcoming match against Tottenham, it was only on September 17, after the Brighton match, that a reporter asked the manager whether Yoro had reached a "turning point" where he needed to perform better.

Carrick responded at the time: "He's only 20 years old, he has a bright future, enormous potential. Being a center-back at this club at such a young age is a challenging job in itself. He's certainly capable, as is Aidan. But there's no such thing as a turning point."

"I'm not concerned about Yoro at all. He's doing a lot of good things, and we must be careful. I won't rush into decisions based on one match, one half, or one moment in a game. We have full confidence in him."

Carrick and his coaching staff's task is to transform their confidence in Yoro into deeper conviction. It won't be easy—but they, and now France's team, have seen enough to understand what's at stake.

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