Manchester United are in a unique position where despite having an underwhelming season, their summer transfer window can be considered a success.
Four out of their five summer signings have become an important part of the team and Joshua Zirkzee looks to be improving with every game.
Among all the signings, arguably nobody else came with quite the pedigree that Matthijs de Ligt did, once marked as the next great centre-back in world football.
It hasn’t quite panned out that way but United signing him was still regarded as a coup relative to where United were in terms of competitiveness.
It ended a saga that had stretched for many years, with United linked to the player since he was at Ajax but the move never panned out. Now, De Ligt has admitted that he’s happy he didn’t join United earlier!
Matthijs de Ligt’s frank Man Utd admission
De Ligt has immediately become a leader in the Man Utd squad despite some early hiccups, as, alongside Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez, they’re the first-choice back-three at Old Trafford.
Even in losses, De Ligt hasn’t been directly responsible for many goals, with his fearless style of defending and assertive ball-playing making him a fan favourite.
However, the malaise has undoubtedly affected him as well, with the pressure ramping up with every defeat.
In an interview with BBC Sport, De Ligt admitted that despite having a playing history that counts the top clubs in the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany on his CV, United is a different beast.
He said: “I think in every club that I’ve played the pressure is really high, but I think at Man Utd it’s the highest… the way we’ve performed this year, we know that it’s not good enough, and then the pressure gets bigger and bigger, and you feel it.”
De Ligt added that the pressure has been so intense that he’s almost happy he didn’t join the club as a youngster who would have probably buckled under it.
De Ligt added: “Yeah, you can feel it as a player. The only thing I’m happy [with] is that I didn’t make the step from Ajax to here because then maybe it would be too much.”
Baptism of fire for Man Utd signings
For the summer arrivals at the club, their world has already been turned upside down as the manager who signed them is no longer here.
Furthermore, the tactical system that was probably sold to them in the club’s vision while signing has been flipped on its head by Ruben Amorim’s arrival.
Not just De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui has already played in seven different positions this season alone. Joshua Zirkzee had the ignominy of being booed by the Old Trafford faithful and is now working his way back from that nadir.
- READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfer deals for January 2025, ins, outs, loan moves, deadline date
Leny Yoro has been drip-fed into the team and has already had a nightmare game against Southampton so he’s a project player trying to develop in less-than-ideal circumstances.
Manuel Ugarte has only just begun to show his best after a change of managers but even he’s been run into the ground and showed signs of fatigue recently.
It’s a baptism of fire for the new arrivals and they’re trying to navigate it the best they can.
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