Manchester United fans dropped their clear-cut verdict on Matthijs de Ligt after the Dutch defender’s performance against Brentford on Saturday at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag was reunited with Matthijs de Ligt in the summer after the former Ajax star completed his sensational move to the Premier League club.
Manchester United splashed out a deal worth nearly £60m to sign De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, who also played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax, from Bayern Munich.
De Ligt has established himself as one of Ten Hag’s preferred picks for a first-choice centre-back, with the Dutchman showing shades of his brilliance at times.
The 25-year-old Dutch centre-back has made nine appearances across all competitions for United this season since his arrival from Bayern Munich.
Man Utd star De Ligt vs Brentford
Matthijs de Ligt made the starting XI alongside Jonny Evans for Manchester United’s first Premier League match since the end of the October international break.
The former Bayern Munich and Ajax defender was dropped from the starting XI for the 0-0 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park ahead of the October break.
De Ligt was placed under the spotlight in the first half after he suffered a head wound and was repeatedly forced off the pitch to have his cut checked and treated.
The Netherlands international had blood pouring down his face in the match and referee Sam Barrott was forced to send De Ligt to the sidelines again in injury time.
De Ligt was unable to return to the pitch for a Brentford corner in first-half injury time and Ethan Pinnock broke the deadlock against United with a header.
United were furious with the decision to send De Ligt off the pitch for the Brentford opener, despite previously failing to seal up his cut on two separate occasions.
Man Utd fans react to De Ligt vs Brentford
Despite his first-half injury, De Ligt returned back to the pitch for the second half and United fans praised the Netherlands defender for persevering with his display.
Red Devils supporters on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, lavished incredible tributes on De Ligt for his elite “mentality” and “warrior” spirit.
“De Ligt stays on, he is an absolute warrior [and] I LOVE him,” one fan said.
Someone else added: “This is the mentality we need in all our players — De Ligt’s hunger to play, fight and win for Manchester United. A true warrior.”
“De Ligt is a warrior, we might have found our [Nemanja] Vidic regen,” a third tweeted.
Another commented: “Very unlucky to concede and [screw] the ref but De Ligt playing in spite of bleeding through the head is exactly the mentality and commitment we have been missing over the past few years. Love it.”
“Matthijs de Ligt has been extremely solid in spite of his head injury,” somebody else wrote.
A sixth posted: “De Ligt has been massive today… been absolutely astute.”
“Matthijs de Ligt, you’ve got a special place in my heart, what a monstrous performance,” a seventh said.
And an eight X user tweeted: “Matthijs De Ligt intercepting anything and everything will be the sweetest thing today; man has been brilliant today.”
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