Leny Yoro Responds to Thierry Henry’s Harsh Criticism After Manchester United’s Defeat to Newcastle

Manchester United’s young defender Leny Yoro has broken his silence after receiving heavy criticism from Premier League legends Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher. The 19-year-old was blamed for his reaction during United’s 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United last weekend.

Henry, who once coached Yoro during his time with France’s under-23 team, was shocked by the teenager’s response after Harvey Barnes scored Newcastle’s second goal. While the ball hit the back of the net, Yoro looked over at the linesman instead of reacting to the play — and that didn’t sit well with the Arsenal legend.

“I don’t know what he’s looking at,” Henry said during his analysis on Sky Sports Monday Night Football. “Why are you looking at the linesman? We all know it’s a goal. What are you hoping for?”

Jamie Carragher added, “That’s going to be a meme now,” stressing on how unusual Yoro’s body language was in that moment.

Yoro, who joined Manchester United from Lille in July 2024 for £52 million, has played 17 Premier League matches this season but only starts one in every three games.

Despite the harsh comments, many Manchester United fans on social media (especially on X) felt that the criticism was unfair. Some even called it “bizarre punditry,” defending the young defender and suggesting that he was being singled out too harshly.

Now, Yoro has finally responded – in his own way. On Tuesday night, he posted a photo of himself crouched on the pitch at St. James’ Park after the defeat, along with a 22-word Bible verse written in French. The message quoted Philippians 4:6:

“Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart.”

The calm and spiritual response showed that Yoro is choosing to stay grounded and focused rather than get dragged into a war of words with the pundits.

It’s also worth noting that Henry once believed in Yoro’s potential, selecting him for France’s Olympic squad. However, the defender opted out to help Lille in their Champions League qualifying games before eventually joining United.

Yoro wasn’t the only player criticised after the heavy loss to Newcastle. Carragher compared the entire United squad under new manager Ruben Amorim to “under-five young kids” rather than professional footballers, showing just how disappointed the pundits were with the team’s performance.

Even though the loss hurts, Yoro’s composed and thoughtful response is a quiet reminder that he’s focused on improving, no matter what others say.