Noussair Mazraoui says Man Utd have a star who can ‘be even better’ despite league leading form

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Manchester United are in a good place for the first time in a long time, with Noussair Mazraoui highlighting one player who has been excellent.

Having persisted with Ruben Amorim through the storm that the Portuguese head coach predicted, Manchester United are beginning to see reward.

Amorim has undoubtedly improved United, and this has benefited from some very talented players stepping up and showcasing top-class levels.

Bryan Mbeumo has been elite, as have Matheus Cunha and Casemiro, but Noussair Mazraoui has hailed another teammate who he says can get even better.

Noussair Mazraoui hails Matthijs de Ligt

This season, Matthijs de Ligt has been among United’s most improved players, making himself one of the first names on the team sheet.

De Ligt has backed himself to reach new heights for United, with his form this season among the very best centre-backs in the league.

Now, speaking with the club website, Mazraoui has discussed De Ligt, hailing him as a defender, but predicting that he will get even better.

“As a defender, he’s also really aggressive,” Mazraoui explained. “He likes to be in the duels and win his duels. On the ball, he’s also really, really good on the ball. You see the Ajax school, of course, in his style of play.

“He makes really good decisions, with the ball and also without the ball, and he’s really, really vocal, which is really important for his position. So, you know, it’s always easier when you have somebody behind you, like telling you a little bit left, just a little bit right, to block a certain passing line.

“That’s how he is on the pitch and, outside the pitch, he is just relaxed, a relaxed guy. Really open and really funny. I think he’s a really good guy to be around. Yeah, I just love the guy.”

Mazraoui then continued to explain how thrilled he was for De Ligt and his resurgence in form.

“I’m really, really proud of the performances he is putting up now,” Mazraoui added. “I think he should stay like this and even improve more because I know he can be even better than this.

“He is still quite young, yeah, I think he even won the Golden Boy [award]. I said lately, for fun, also a little bit serious, that he is reaching his form of a Golden Boy again. I think he is getting into his prime at this point.”

• READ: The shaping of Matthijs De Ligt, the Golden Boy winner who had to play down Franz Beckenbauer comparisons

Matthijs de Ligt is one of the best Premier League centre-backs

While De Ligt is approaching his prime, this season has only seen him begin making that climb back to prominence, having had a hot and cold first season at the club.

Rio Ferdinand has named De Ligt as United’s best defender, and based on his performances this season, there is no doubt this is true.

• 990 minutes played
• 1 goal (80th percentile)
• 0.48 expected assists (85th percentile)
• 87.4% passing accuracy (45th percentile)
• 51% Long ball accuracy (76th percentile)
• 18 tackles (87th percentile)
• 62 duels won (89th percentile)
• 66% duels won (76th percentile)
• 40 aerial duels won (92nd percentile)
• 66% aerial duels won (65th percentile)
• 13 interceptions (87th percentile)

De Ligt can be the rock United’s defence is built on for the next decade or longer, with the Dutchman coming into his prime, growing at the club, and arguably already among the best in the league.

Especially over the five-game unbeaten run, De Ligt has looked unbeatable, and now he is getting the praise he deserves. But he can still get a lot better.