Manchester United’s woes continued this weekend with Ruben Amorim’s side suffering a 1-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
Despite creating some presentable chances, United lost the game to an equally out of form Spurs side who were there for the taking by a side full of confidence.
United’s attacking players have come in for large amounts of criticism after the game with missed chances being the continuous theme of the season for Amorim’s misfiring men.
However centre back Matthijs de Ligt also faced the wrath of former Arsenal defender Martin Keown in his assessment of United’s latest poor showing.
Speaking on his talkSPORT show, Keown questioned the £45 million fee United shelled out of the former Bayern Munich man and feels the Dutchman is contributing to his sides poor form with rash on field decisions.
“Look at De Ligt, the amount of money they spent on him by the way is almost obscene for a centre half.
He’s playing like a robot. There’s times he can clear the ball and he puts it out for a corner. He just creates issues for the team. Ruben Amorim needs to empower him with confidence, I’m not seeing any of that with him,” he said.
Keown’s words on De Ligt’s lack of confidence certainly ring true for the majority of his teammates who are evidently nervous on the ball, something that has been echoed by Amorim himself.
United’s apparent inability to adapt to Amorim’s three at the back system is causing huge problems for the Portuguese coach in his early days at Old Trafford leading to call for him to adapt his approach.
De Ligt has played the bulk of his career in a back four meaning it will take time for him to get used to Amorim’s methods along with his colleagues who look lost on and off the ball at present.
United are currently sat in 15th place in the Premier League table and still need points to avoid a relegation battle which remains a very real possibility given the team’s form and injury list.
Amorim was forced to name an almost unrecognizable bench on Sunday with Victor Lindelöf the only player not still in his teenage years as the Portuguese coach leaned heavily on the academy to buttress his depleted squad.
United are back in action this weekend as they travel to Goodison Park for the final time to face former manager David Moyes who is enjoying a good run of form since his return to Everton.
Feature image Alex Pantling via Getty Images
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Conner Botterill
Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for two years. A keen match-going red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology, Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.
