Matthijs de Ligt’s recent performances show he’s settling in well at Manchester United
Manchester: After some ups and downs, it looks like Manchester United’s coach Ruben Amorim has finally found his go-to back three. For the first time since he took over in November, he named the same trio against Arsenal in the FA Cup, just like he did against Newcastle and Liverpool. Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, and Lisandro Martinez really stepped up and delivered their best performance together.
De Ligt and Maguire were on fire, with De Ligt making a crucial clearance to stop Leandro Trossard in extra time. Maguire was a wall, heading and clearing everything Arsenal threw at them. Both players had been having a rough season, but Amorim’s switch to a three-man defense seems to be working wonders.
De Ligt came to United with experience in this system, while Maguire has thrived in it for England. The team bolstered their defense last summer by bringing in Leny Yoro and De Ligt, expecting them to compete for spots alongside Martinez. At first, they were playing a 4-2-3-1 under Erik ten Hag, but things have changed.
De Ligt was brought in for his experience, while Yoro was seen as a future star. While both were big signings, Yoro got more hype. Former United player Rio Ferdinand had doubts about De Ligt, questioning if he could make an impact given his injury history and lack of game time in recent years.
But lately, De Ligt has been proving the critics wrong. After a shaky start, he’s found his groove, thanks to consistent performances and solid partnerships in defense. With his big-money background, it was always likely he’d make a difference, and it looks like he’s finally on the right track.
