Manchester United’s Matthijs de Ligt has had an impressive start to the season.
The Dutchman is arguably the first choice centre back at the club under Ruben Amorim and is fulfilling the clear potential he has.
De Ligt gave a wide-ranging interview to The Telegraph covering his fine form at the club.
Move to United was destiny
The defender joined United in 2024 from Bayern Munich and believes it was “destiny” that he signed for the club.
He explained that he used to have a Cristiano Ronaldo shirt as a boy and that he revealed that he always looked up to the club. He explained, “there was also [Edwin] Van der Sar at United at that time and they played Champions League finals. As a kid, naturally, you looked to the Champions League finals and there was United and Ronaldo. So I was always a big Ronaldo fan.”
De Ligt explained that the club had tried to sign him in the past but it was not quite the right moment in his career. Commenting on his move he stated, “but in the end maybe destiny brought me here… it’s a dream for every player to play for United.”
Liverpool match
United travel to Anfield tomorrow to take on Liverpool in what is a potentially critical match in the club’s season.
Discussing the huge match tomorrow he claimed, “we know the magnitude of it. I walked down the street yesterday and several people said to me ‘Hey, Sunday’s the game!’ You feel around here what it means. We already know that as players. But, besides that, we also know that it’s really important for us to get a result because we’re improving. But we have to keep winning.”
De Ligt’s super form
While admitting that the team’s overall improved statistics from last season are better he claimed they mean nothing unless they start converting it into points and wins.
He added, “data doesn’t count. Statistics don’t count. But obviously when you’re not winning and you see that still you had a lot of chances and you just maybe missed the final touch to score a goal this gives confidence that we are actually playing quite OK. This gives us the belief that we can win a lot of games.”
The defender has impressed in his own regard as he is in the top five in the league for aerial duels won, duels won and tackles.
Discussing his own performances he stated, “I’m really happy about the stats. I hope we can combine these good statistics with winning.”
He claimed at 26 years old he is feeling physically and mentally very good and has built up significant experience in almost a decade of professional football.
De Ligt did warn forwards though that his best is still yet to come as defenders usually peak around 30, 31 years old.
Adapting to England
De Ligt explained that he has spent his life adapting to different styles of football after playing in the Netherlands, Italy and Germany.
Commenting on his time in the Premier League so far he stated, “in the beginning the pace is so different compared to the leagues I’ve played in. Around January until March I found my rhythm and played really good football.”
Ruben Amorim support
De Ligt was signed by his former manager at Ajax Erik ten Hag but he claims to have adapted well to life with Amorim.
The big defender explained that he finds the Portuguese and Dutch similar people as they are quite direct. He elaborated “I have a good relationship with him [Amorim] because of this, because he’s quite direct and I am quite direct with him. It’s about honesty and also in honesty you can say things that are sometimes not so good and you accept that also, you know, because it’s the only way. Communication and clarity is the most important thing in a team.”
3-4-3 debate
There has been much discussion in the media and amongst fans on the merit of Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation but De Ligt believes it has been overblown.
He insisted that the team is improving and that “it’s always easy to say ‘system this, system that’. But, in the end, it’s always adaptable in the game. There’s no situation where the system is always the same in the game. In that way of being flexible and in the structure we have to find a way to get everything right and make everything happen.”
Connection with fans
The Netherlands international explained that what makes United special in his mind is the connection with the supporters.
He also claimed that the team is trying to have “a little bit a mix between English, old English football and the modern game. We want to play as United but we also want to get quick attacks, counter-attacks, pace, speed, ball in the box. You know what I mean? Really hard duels, tackles. That’s what I would call the DNA of Manchester United.”
Finally, De Ligt praised the strength of the league this season claiming that, “the Premier League right now is really close. Every team is close to each other. It’s getting harder and harder for every team because the opponents are better.”
De Ligt will hope to take his strong form into tomorrow’s gigantic clash at Anfield.
Featured image Jan Kruger via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.