Latest news with #MathijsDeLigt
New York Times
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Matthijs de Ligt on Amorim's honesty, playing in a back three and Manchester United's Kuala Lumpur bus tour
Having spent his entire career at clubs which traditionally challenge for domestic titles, a season without European football is going to be something of a jolt to the system for Mathijs de Ligt. 'Well, I experienced it once,' he says. 'It was actually also after a Europa League final.' De Ligt is referring to 2017, when his Ajax side were beaten by Manchester United, then managed by Jose Mourinho. At the start of 2017-18, Ajax were knocked out in the third qualifying round of the Champions League by Nice and then the Europa League play-off round by Rosenborg. Advertisement 'The season after, we reached the semi-final of the Champions League,' De Ligt adds. 'So, let's keep that. A good sign. 'On a serious note, I've been used to playing in the Champions League for my whole career, more or less. This season was the Europa League but it was also really nice. We reached the final and unfortunately, we couldn't win it. Next season will be different with less games.' De Ligt feels, like Ruben Amorim, that United need to make the most of the free midweeks next season. 'Every player wants to play as many games as possible,' he says. 'But I think, for the manager, there's more time to train, more time also to have an intensive tactical session, because you can still train tactical if you play a lot of games but you cannot put the intensity in because you're playing, every two days, a game. 'So, I think in that way, as the manager said, it could be an advantage and hopefully we can exploit that.' Despite being a student of the game and his history with the Champions League, De Ligt will not be watching so much of the competition on television. 'I watched a lot of football when I was younger,' he explains. 'The last years, a little bit less because I have been busy and the football is changing. Just speaking from my point of view, I'm now 25, so everything that is from the past, I make it nicer than it was. 'But for me, football before was more interesting to watch. I think now it's a little bit more business, it's about results, and maybe the flair or the crazy actions where people are going for the statement becomes less and less. 'I think that's the development now of football and let's see how it goes, if it stays or if it's changing. The big games, I still like to watch.' United have certainly been a difficult viewing experience this season and Amorim has his work cut out to revamp the team into an appealing proposition with results to match. 'I've got a really good relationship with him,' says De Ligt of United's head coach. 'He's really open also with me, so it's really nice to speak with him. Advertisement 'I've experienced many managers. He's one of the managers who is the most easy to talk to as a player. In the same way, you can also see what he's doing, what he wants to do with the team. 'I think he wants to build a team of players who are together, especially, fighting for each other and making the most out of what they have. Maybe like before, you were United with the best players but you're not a team. I think that's really positive. Hopefully, next season, from the pre-season, we can work really strong on that.' De Ligt's assessment is notable given how brutal Amorim has been about his team in press conferences, with a reference to this version of United being the worst in history particularly memorable. 'I'm from Holland, so I like it,' De Ligt says of Amorim's direct approach. 'I can understand that for the media, they're in shock because they're like: 'Normally, this doesn't happen' but I think you can also, as a media, be really happy that finally, someone speaks out what he thinks and speaks the truth instead of going around (it). 'I really appreciate him in our conversations personally, how we speak. That gives me a feeling that I can trust him and he can trust me.' De Ligt continues: 'I like to see what the manager is doing right now. I'm not speaking into details but I have a feeling he's really looking at the spots. I'm not speaking about players only but also about the whole culture and the way we are working at the club. I think he's really into details. Before signing new players, he's first looking at, 'what is the culture, what needs to change, what can improve to become a better football club?'. I think from next season, we will see more of that.' Finding players who can deal with the pressure and focus of playing for United is a key aspect. 'I've been at Ajax and there were moments where we were not playing good, and they (the fans) were also cynical,' De Ligt continues. 'The pressure is all the same, you need to win. 'But I think the biggest difference right now is that this season was such below expectations that the pressure feels much more on you, especially because you don't get much joy. It feels even more. I think that's what a lot of players are experiencing this season. Advertisement 'As you can see, it also can change real quick, like you saw in the Europa League, how the emotions were also with the players and together with the fans. That's something that I think it can be really tough but it can also be amazing. I think hopefully, next season we can make it amazing.' De Ligt was brought in by Erik ten Hag, who he shares a close relationship with after their days together at Ajax, but had to switch manager and system on Amorim's arrival. 'It's a discussion that comes up a lot,' says the defender. 'It's always like: 'Oh, three in the back, four in the back'. I think if you really analyse our games, it's not that static. I think in the build-up, the big European teams play with a three in the back. They switch the midfielder in the back or a full-back who comes back, so it's always in a three. 'But then maybe the difference is sometimes what kind of players do you put in certain positions? How do you want to play? You can play with five in the back or you can play with three in the back. It's completely different. 'For me, the position changes but it's not that much. It's more like right centre-back with Erik or it's in the middle of a three. Obviously, it's a difference but it's manageable. 'Hopefully, next season, we can give the fans a little bit more joy in the way of playing and especially ourselves in showing what we can do.' De Ligt has been on United's post-season tour to Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong despite recovering from a foot injury which he first picked up against Nottingham Forest on April 1, then suffered a recurrence of at Brentford on May 4. 'It's going better,' says the Dutchman. 'It's still not over yet, otherwise I would be on the pitch. It's not one thing — it's multiple things that have to come together. Hopefully soon I can be back on the pitch and fit for pre-season.' De Ligt accepts that staying in Manchester might have been preferable. 'I mean I wouldn't say it's ideal but it's the way how it is,' says De Ligt, speaking in Asia. 'It's for the players to accept the things how they are. Here I can do the job. The facilities are really good. The physios are here with us, so I'm not complaining about that. Advertisement 'It has been a really long season and the last one and a half month, I didn't play but still I think everybody needs a holiday.' De Ligt's presence in Asia did mean United had a strong representative to greet fans. He sang a chant with real energy to a crowd at a sponsor event in Kuala Lumpur and also rode the open-top bus that was mocked by rival fans. He says: 'We know we had a difficult season so from the outside, it's really easy to say: 'Oh, what are they doing now? They go on the bus?'. 'But you obviously have to deal with millions of fans in Asia who are also for the club and us as players, which is really important. They don't see us as often as the people from Manchester or from England. 'It's so valuable because it really gives you a connection for us to see how they view us but also for them to see us close. Even if it's after a season like this; it's not the easiest trip but it's so nice for us to show our love to the fans.' The aim is for United's next open-top bus to be accompanied by major silverware. 'Yeah, that would be nice,' says De Ligt.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Manchester United injury updates: Yoro, De Ligt and Dalot latest news and chances to play in Europa League final
Manchester United hope to salvage a dismal campaign with Europa League final glory against Tottenham Hotspur. Ruben Amorim, after a run which has seen a number of farcical moments en route to Bilbao, will hope to claim a trophy in his first season in charge of the Red Devils and, with that silverware, there is the bonus of qualification for next season's Champions League. United have been contending with a number of injuries, with their terrible Premier League form in recent weeks leaving them 16th in the table after 18 league defeats. with transfer success impacted by the result at the San Mames. Team news The main concern for United is the trio of Leny Yoro, Diogo Dalot, and Mathijs de Ligt, with Amorim stating that the former two are both fit to feature in Bilbao. The Portuguese also said that Joshua Zirkzee, ruled out for the season with a hamstring injury, is also back and fit to play. Amorim stated: 'They are limited for their minutes in the game but they can help us to win the game. They recover quite well, they push. We respect the feelings of the players but push a little bit because they want to be a part of the team.' Leny Yoro Suffered a foot injury and was taken off against West Ham, it could be a reoccurrence of an issue that gave him problems earlier in the season. Also missing against Chelsea but back in time for Bilbao. Matthijs de Ligt Suffered a knock against Brentford, not thought to be serious, but was not risked against Chelsea. He travelled to Bilbao but does not make it into the squad. Diogo Dalot Dealing with a calf injury and sidelined since the end of April, but rejoined the squad in Bilbao and will make the bench. Lisandro Martinez Out for the season with a knee injury. Joshua Zirkzee Initially ruled out for the season with a hamstring injury, but travelled to Bilbao and is apparently fit to make an impact in the final off the bench. Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur; Johnson, Kulusevski, Richarlison; Solanke.
