Now that the dust has settled, both Manchester United and Bayern Munich can be pretty happy with how the summer panned out. Particularly regarding the deal which took Matthijs de Ligt to England.
At Old Trafford, Manuel Ugarte is slowly but surely growing into the all-action ball-winner Manchester United have long-since craved. Noussair Mazraoui’s Player of the Month award for November is testament to the impact and the consistency of the Red Devils’ man for all positions.
Joshua Zirkzee finally announced himself with a brace against Everton too.
And Matthijs de Ligt, while not yet a bonafide fans’ favourite like his former Ajax and Bayern team-mate Mazraoui, has been pretty solid himself in the first few months of his Man United career.
Bayern Munich have no regrets over Matthijs de Ligt’s Manchester United move
Over in Germany, meanwhile, former Fulham stalwart Joao Palhinha has added much-needed depth to Bayern Munich’s midfield. Michael Olise, the £50 million winger snapped up from Crystal Palace, has seven goals and five assists in 19 games.
At the other end of the pitch, Bayern have been breached just eight times in the Bundesliga. Four points clear of reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen, Vincent Kompany is presiding over the best defensive record in the division.
And that, sporting director Max Eberl tells Amazon Prime, certainly does not have Bayern wishing they could turn back the clock and retain De Ligt’s services at the Allianz Arena.
Eberl explains that, following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel and the arrival of Kompany, the Bavarians planned to utilise a higher defensive line requiring greater speed and a sharper turning circle from their centre-halves.
And, for all of De Ligt’s qualities, the Dutch international himself would admit that pace is not his greatest attribute.
“We had the idea that we wanted to defend very high and actively,” Eberl explains. “With [Kim] Min-Jae and Upa [Dayot Upamecano], we have two players who, when they have confidence, are very good tacklers and easy footballers.
“It’s not about us feeling vindicated [for selling De Ligt]. He is a top central defender. [But] we had to make a decision. We did that and it worked.”
Bayern fans wanted De Ligt to stay in the Bundesliga
It’s fair to say De Ligt’s sale did not go down well with the Bayern Munich fans.
Matthijs de Ligt’s wife shared an emotional message delivered by one supporter as his £38 million switch to Old Trafford edged closer back in August, while a petition demanding that De Ligt be retained – via Change.Org – gathered over 70,000 signatures.
Eberl, however, insists that it is the role of him and the other Bayern bosses to make decisions with their heads rather than their hearts.
“The fans are always very close [to the players], very emotional,” says the former Borussia Monchengladbach chief. “But we have to decide – based on facts and ideas – how we want to play football.”
De Ligt has featured in every one of Man United’s 13 Premier League games this term. The former Ajax captain has also started ten of the last 11.
He is likely to start in the centre of Ruben Amorim’s back three as Man United travel to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.
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