Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt gave his verdict on his team’s performance in the 2-1 victory over West Ham United in what was their opening match in the Premier League Summer Series.
Following what was a disappointing goalless draw with Leeds United, Man United stepped up their game in New Jersey, delivering a fiery performance at the MetLife Stadium that would have been sure to delight their North American fans.
During his post-match interview, De Ligt pulled no punches as he delivered an honest assessment of his team’s performance.
“It was a good night”
When asked about whether he enjoyed the encounter, De Ligt plainly replied: “It was a good night. I think [it was a] good performance from us.”
“Especially the first half, I thought, went really well. Really energetic. Great pressing.”
“I think also defensively, we didn’t concede much,” De Ligt continued. “I think overall the performance was pleasing.”
De Ligt didn’t only comment on his and his teammates’ performances, however. The interviewer then asked him for his verdict on manager Ruben Amorim and the effectiveness of his training regimen.
De Ligt on Amorim’s methods
When asked if his team’s training sessions helped to build up the required intensity for United to clinch the victory, De Ligt confirmed, “I think, today, we hit the intensity that was perfect for this moment.”
“But I think there is so much more potential,” he continued. “You saw today what kind of players we have. Physical players who are really strong, who are really quick also. So, I think if we can improve that, our gameplay becomes even better.”
Who stood out
When pressed to identify who he believed were his team’s standout players, De Ligt could not single out anyone in particular.
“I think everybody has been training hard, everybody has been fit. I think, today, if you looked at the team, there’s no one who was worse than the others. Everybody, I think, was on a good level,” he declared.
Overall, De Ligt appeared chuffed with his team’s effort. “I think the result of today was also important because it brings positivity in the camp, it brings that extra motivation to improve even more, so I think with today we can be really happy and let’s improve even more.”
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Mathew Cohen
A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
