Matthijs De Ligt, The Boy Becoming a Man in Manchester
Matthijs De Ligt left Ajax at 19 years old with the weight of the world on his shoulders. The Dutchman, who came through the ranks at the iconic side from Amsterdam, was hurtled into the world of glitz and glamous at Juventus, forced into a narrative that he never asked for and judged in that manner going forward ever since. The media’s tendency to derail players before they have ever gotten to fulfil their full potential is a tale as old as time itself, and there is that unfortunate feeling that Matthijs De Ligt, or “Matta,” as he is known at Manchester United, has been another victim of that scenario. Plagued by media that set expectations that were impossible to reach, failing to judge him for what he really is, which is a brilliantly talented defender.
False Media Narratives Around De Ligt
That narrative threatened to force its way into English fan behavior and the media upon his signing for United. Certain suggestions circulated the net, even from the likes of Paul Scholes, who should be more educated on these situations considering his standing as a pundit in the game, that De Ligt struggled for game time at Bayern Munich and failed at Juventus. Neither of these statements are true. De Ligt had the second highest appearances for a centre-back during his time at Bayern, with only Dayot Upamecano featuring more during the Dutchman’s time at the club. He won a league title at both Juventus, as well as the KOPA trophy for best U21 player, and also won a league title at Bayern under Julian Nagelsmann, being part of incredibly strong defensive units in both countries.
An issue when the media build up a player to heights they can never reach is that the masses then tend to judge them unfairly when they don’t live up to expectations that nobody truly could. De Ligt was billed as the next “Van Dijk” when he was making his way at Ajax early on, captaining the team at such a young age and leading them to a Champions League semi-final under the guidance of Erik ten Hag, whom he has now worked under twice. Ten Hag at that time tipped De Ligt to go on to become one of the best central defenders in Europe, and as he approaches his prime over the coming seasons, there is still a huge opportunity for that to happen.
De Ligt had been on the radar for some time at Manchester United, dating back to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign at the club. Many felt he was simply another Dutch signing made by Erik ten Hag, but that wasn’t strictly the case. For many years, he has had admirers at the club, and their wish was finally fulfilled this summer when Matthijs signed, under the guidance of the new owners, INEOS, who identified the defender as someone who could spearhead them to that next level.
The 25-year-old, born in Leiderdorp, Netherlands, has showcased that type of warrior spirit in games that perfectly highlight what Ruben Amorim demands from his players. The former Bayern defender had a tough week last Sunday at Anfield, being beaten for Cody Gakpo’s goal and then having an incredibly unlucky penalty go against him for the second time this season, but he recovered immensely yesterday evening, showcasing one of the best defensive displays you will see from a defender this season in Europe, hammered home by one of the best defensive clearances you could ever ask for late on in the game to stop Arsenal going ahead.
The “Mad Dog”
His ability to track back in the 91st minute was startling, especially when you factor in the turn of pace he showed, despite the continued narrative that he lacks that yard of speed to make him an elite defender. Ruben Amorim recently talked about wanting his team to run like mad dogs, and the 25-year-old certainly encapusulated that mantra as he sped past even Alejandro Garnacho on the half-way line to try and halt an Arsenal counterattack.
The player, like his countryman Joshua Zirkzee, has joined the club at a turbulent time, which can create uncertainty in regards to your transition from one league to another. Zirkzee had a really tough moment against Newcastle last week but bounced back against Arsenal in a similar manner to De Ligt, winning over the hearts of the 8 thousand strong travelling away fans at the Emirates, one of the largest allocations of away supporters the club has ever had.
This is the first time De Ligt has signed for a club that is not expected to win the league upon his arrival, but if anything, the scrutiny is higher than when he was at those clubs that were. Manchester United are the most scrutinised club on the planet, and as Harry Maguire has found out throughout his period at the club, it can be an unforgiving place for a central defender who is making mistakes in a struggling team.
But there is a belief that De Ligt has the mentality to succeed. The Dutch national team is an equally difficult environment to thrive as a player, with the media in the country incredibly disrespectful towards the national team, and the defender has had difficult moments, even recently, which have caused him to be the subject of targeted abuse from the media. De Ligt has handled the setbacks with character and determination, which bode incredibly well for the coming years at United. Those are the types of personalities the club needs on their books to get back to the top.
A player to build around:
United have signed a gem in De Ligt, who, at 25, still has yet to enter his prime years. The system Amorim deploys may also suit the Dutchman, as it has suited Harry Maguire, and allow both defenders to have their best spells in their careers, with that extra protection coming from the players around you in that back three or back five system, depending on how you look at the game. He is a leader, something Manchester United have been crying out for, and he feels like the type of signings the club would have made in their prime years under Sir Alex Ferguson, which is as big a compliment as you could give him.
De Ligt’s style and commitment are reminiscent of a certain Manchester United legend, who also subsequently signed for the club at 25 years old in the shape of Nemanja Vidic. He has already bled for the badge this season against Brentford, in another situation where he and the team have been hard done by in regards to the officiating in England, and his commitment in the tackle throws serious flashbacks to the Serbian’s time at the club, in which he became the best defender on the planet.
Matthijs De Ligt isn’t perfect, but then again, nobody is and nobody should be. He is a very talented defender, possessing an infectious attitude towards the game and the kind of commitment that United fans have been longing for over the past few seasons. There will be alterations in the Amorim era. Signings will be made and players will leave the club; that much is increasingly certain and unable to be avoided, but De Ligt should not be one of them. This is a player the club can build around. This is a club De Ligt can create a proper legacy in. One where he is judged as the player he is instead of those unrealistic demands many tried to paint him out as in the early days, which he has carried with him ever since.
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