Ruben Amorim has revealed “special talent” Leny Yoro could make his Manchester United debut at Arsenal on Wednesday evening. The teenage centre-back has not featured for United since breaking his foot in pre-season after moving from Lille for £52m.
The 19-year-old was injured in a friendly against Arsenal during a tour to America, nine days after joining the club. “I feel that now is a good moment,” Amorim said. “I think he’s a special talent, you have to be careful in this first moment, because we didn’t have too many training [sessions] together.
“He is training not alone, but with a small group of players, he is really fast, a modern defender and that is good when you want to press high and you leave a lot of strikers one against one. I think he can manage that. I think he is very good with the ball. I am really excited. I have to be careful, we have to manage the loads, the minutes in the beginning, but I am really excited to see Leny Yoro playing.”
Amorim is unbeaten in his first three games in charge of United but they have not won at the Emirates Stadium since January 2019. The new head coach has called on his players to be “brave” against the team six points ahead of them in the league.
Amid all the positivity since his arrival, the Portuguese has one complaint. “I don’t like my chant,” Amorim said. “I don’t like it. I feel a little bit, not embarrassed, but because I’m the coach, they have to chant for the players and for the club. So it’s not a good thing for me.
Manchester United have told supporters that controversial ticket price hikes are part of wider measures aimed at putting the club "on a stronger financial footing". Last week the club communicated the mid-season decision to raise prices of remaining home tickets to £66 per match, without concessions for children or pensioners.
United supporters and fan groups immediately expressed their fury, with a protest before Sunday's match against Everton followed by more angry calls against Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family during the 4-0 win.
The club emailed supporters clarifying the price changes the following day, shortly before the FA Cup holders were drawn away to Arsenal in the third round.
United said: "As a club, we have been focused on cost saving to put us on a stronger financial footing. This means having to make very hard decisions, including a significant reduction in our staff numbers. It also means looking for opportunities to increase our revenues so we can continue to invest in football and infrastructure.
"We have now sold over 97% of tickets this season, many of which were at a discounted rate. We are implementing some policy changes for matches that have already sold out, where only small numbers of tickets will be released."
Ratcliffe has made some big changes since becoming co-owner at the start of a year that saw United post net losses of £113.2m for the 12 months ending 30 June.
Around 250 members of staff have left Old Trafford as part of cost-cutting measures, while Sir Alex Ferguson will leave his ambassadorial position at the end of the season. PA Media
“I understand and really appreciate the connection with the supporters but I want them to support the team and the players because they are on the pitch and I’m outside the pitch. But I am really honoured by that, I feel a connection with the supporters but we know we need results to maintain that.”
