Matthijs de Ligt image 4

Matthijs de Ligt Netherlands flag

2025-26 Performances

View full 2025-26 profile

6.2 Season Average Rating
Appearances
14
Clean sheets
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Yellow cards
0
Winrar said:
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i’m one of the “haters” of his passing now and then, and while that’s a good ball, that’s simply not what he does all of the time, but more of a rarity. But fingers crossed he can find passes like that in the future.
 
CM said:
Agreed. De Ligt's limitations are far more apparent in a 3. Mobility and ball playing ability aren't among his strong points, yet he is the one moving up into midfield to bolster numbers. It doesn't make any sense to me.

I can't see him remaining a starter if we continue playing a back 3 beyond this season. He might have more of a chance if we revert back to a 4.
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Does it make sense now?.
 
ROFLUTION said:
i’m one of the “haters” of his passing now and then, and while that’s a good ball, that’s simply not what he does all of the time, but more of a rarity. But fingers crossed he can find passes like that in the future.
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Why? he is a CB who is decent to good with his passing, what else do you want? it's like the fans fixated on a goalkeeper who can "pass" well we had Onana, how did that go?
 
CM said:
Agreed. De Ligt's limitations are far more apparent in a 3. Mobility and ball playing ability aren't among his strong points, yet he is the one moving up into midfield to bolster numbers. It doesn't make any sense to me.

I can't see him remaining a starter if we continue playing a back 3 beyond this season. He might have more of a chance if we revert back to a 4.
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While everyone is entitled to an opinion. The reason i feel this comment demonstrates a low football IQ or being influenced by press/pundits is that even last season you could already see he was a very good cb and he was regularly our best player. It’s only because of United’s name and where we finished that he didn’t get the credit he deserved last year. Any cb who played exactly as he did, for say Southampton, Everton etc and finished where United finished would have had Europe’s top clubs all chasing him.
 
moses said:
Does it make sense now?.
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Shaw was the one moving into the midfield on the weekend so it's not really applicable to the point I made in the post you quoted. I'm still not a fan of a CB pushing into midfield but Shaw is probably slightly better equipped for it than de Ligt if someone from the back 3 has to do it.

As an aside, I do think de Ligt is playing a lot better this season than he was last season.
 
CM said:
Shaw was the one moving into the midfield on the weekend so it's not really applicable to the point I made in the post you quoted. I'm still not a fan of a CB pushing into midfield but Shaw is probably slightly better equipped for it than de Ligt if someone from the back 3 has to do it.

As an aside, I do think de Ligt is playing a lot better this season than he was last season.
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He's perfect for that CCB role especially now we're aren't imitating Pep trying to play through the opponent high press.

I remember after we signed him and Yoro we tried to move Maguire on but he stayed put, I think that bought De Ligt time because the option of Magiure was there. I'll like us to do same with Case and whomever we're signing in midfield.
 
He has been terrific all year. Our most consistent defender and has to be up there for POTY candidate this far into the season. He’s not the sexy choice but he’s immense at the back.
 
moses said:
No they are not.
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To be fair, much as his form has improved, we do look to be bypassing our CB now and just going effectively long with our goalkicks. Which we should've done from the start.
If you can't or don't have right personnel to continually play out from the back then simply don't do it. We look better for it.
 
90THMIN... said:
Why? he is a CB who is decent to good with his passing, what else do you want? it's like the fans fixated on a goalkeeper who can "pass" well we had Onana, how did that go?
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Because his long passing is usually really bad and leads to us not being dynamic enough. Being OK, makes us slow.

It’s fine with me if he plays the DC as it’s more of a physical and simple role, but in the role of RCB or LCB, passing makes a big difference, as it can bypass a lot of the opponent. If little skills in passing, the build up play becomes slow and predictable, and De Ligt was the cause of that many times last season.

You could tell how much passing mattered when Licha was on fire in the LCB role last season when he finally settled in, just before he was injured.
 
Trex said:
He's perfect for that CCB role especially now we're aren't imitating Pep trying to play through the opponent high press.

I remember after we signed him and Yoro we tried to move Maguire on but he stayed put, I think that bought De Ligt time because the option of Magiure was there. I'll like us to do same with Case and whomever we're signing in midfield.
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Yep, that's the other thing. We've tweaked the way we play in the last couple of matches and have been happy to cede possession without trying to build up through the CBs, which is probably what should've happened the entire time if Amorim was going to insist on this formation. That's just a case of playing to the players' strengths, and de Ligt has been a beneficiary as now he can do the things he's actually good at.

JediSith said:
While everyone is entitled to an opinion. The reason i feel this comment demonstrates a low football IQ or being influenced by press/pundits is that even last season you could already see he was a very good cb and he was regularly our best player. It’s only because of United’s name and where we finished that he didn’t get the credit he deserved last year. Any cb who played exactly as he did, for say Southampton, Everton etc and finished where United finished would have had Europe’s top clubs all chasing him.
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De Ligt had some good games last season but he also had a few when he was badly exposed. I wouldn't even necessarily blame him for that, hence why I questioned the formation and the decisions to push him up into midfield. Leave him to the fundamentals of defending, ideally in a deeper line, and you'll see a much better player.
 
JediSith said:
I think he is. Amorim maybe didn’t say it intentionally. But more than likely he’s our next captain.
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He’s not officially on it though,

Hopefully he will be added next year?

The official leadership team is Bruno, dalot, Martinez, Maguire, heaton and Mazraoui

He should defo be in there.
 
I'll be honest - I wasn't a big fan when he first came to the club. But he's slowly starting to win me over.

I still think he's a little too error prone for the position but maybe that's down to playing in a new system. Also not a fan of last-ditch hero tackles -- to me it just says you were caught out of position.

Still not sure if he has one stand out - world class attribute... but maybe you don't need that in the modern game.

Definitely has had some very strong performances this season and seems to have bought into the defensive movement Amorim expects from his center backs. So that's definitely a big positive.

We've had some great centre backs at this club. Is he going to remembered as one of them? Time will tell I guess...
 
ManhattanRed said:
He has been terrific all year. Our most consistent defender and has to be up there for POTY candidate this far into the season. He’s not the sexy choice but he’s immense at the back.
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He has been very good, and it surprised me to learn he's only recently turned 26. Thought he was older for some reason. If he can maintain this form, and stay largely injury free, he could be the core of our defence for years to come.
 
Moving to Juventus to learn how the Italians defend was the biggest mistake of his career.
 
He’s class and the sad part is he’s been largely class since he signed. He just hasn’t gotten any recognition. Proper United player.
 
CMRobbo7 said:
He’s class and the sad part is he’s been largely class since he signed. He just hasn’t gotten any recognition. Proper United player..
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Easily one one of our best players along with Mbeumo this season. He's only 26 and he's only entering his prime as a CB. He looks like a captain material to me after Bruno leaves.
 
He's always been class. Only left Bayern due to the wage situation and him being more sellable than the others, but he wasn't any worse than their CBs. Absolutely crazy how he's had a manager change every season of his career, and undoubtedly has had an impact but hopefully he can settle now for his prime years. Same with the injuries, his body seems to have settled down here at United. Definitely see him as the clear captain post Bruno.
 
Tottenham 2:2 Man Utd New
Yes Tel gets away from him and the ball goes in deflected off him for Spurs first goal, but de Ligt takes a hand to the face while he's doing it so might be a bit unlucky he didnt receive a freekick instead

Regardless he rescued the point with our 2nd shot on target, so motm for me
 
Deserved that moment. Up there with Mbeumo and Casemiro as player of the season so far for us.
 
Been dominant in the defence. Unlucky to be turned for that goal, but should have been stopped at source to be fair to him. Consistently playing well this season.
 
Initially, I was dubious about this signing and wasn't entirely convinced he'd make an impact for us. However, I think he's been great. Potential captain material.
 
Titan at the back. Tel rolled him but he recovered well enough and blocked the shot which he unfortunately deflected in. He earned us a point and I'm sure he's frustrated that all his good work seems to be unraveled in minutes during games. We're developing a bad habit of defending well enough for 70 mins then letting in 2 goals in 5mins.
 
I do really like De Ligt at the moment. Could have maybe got closer for the goal but he’s a 6/10 and above every week as part of a not so great defence.
 
Massive player for us.

Don't blame him for their first really, was a good touch from Tel and then he got unlucky with the deflection
 
If he carries this form on for the rest of the season, he needs to be made captain next season.

Bruno is not captain material, never has been for me.
 
He was mostly good and scored great equaliser. I'd say one important negative: his defending for Romero's chance which was exactly the way we conceded at Fulham. Think he struggles with those kind of dangerous low crosses deep into box and do believe teams will try to exploit it on more occassions this season.
 
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