Matthijs de Ligt has labelled his debut season at Manchester United a personal success, despite the team enduring a difficult campaign on the whole.
After signing from Bayern Munich for £39 million last summer, the Dutch centre-back made over 40 appearances before a late-season injury ruled him out of United’s final run-in. Speaking to the club’s official website, De Ligt praised his own progress and ability to adapt to a new tactical setup.
Adjusting to Life at Old Trafford
While Manchester United finished a disappointing sixth in the Premier League, De Ligt was one of the more consistent performers — staying fit for the majority of the campaign and becoming a key figure in the back line.
“I think I’m quite satisfied. First of all, because I played over 40 matches… I think I contributed also in a way that I could be happy with.” — Matthijs de Ligt
Transitioning to Amorim’s Back Three
De Ligt also discussed the mid-season managerial switch that saw Ruben Amorim replace Erik ten Hag and implement a three-man defensive system — a change the 24-year-old believes helped him evolve further.
Having grown up playing in a traditional back four, De Ligt admitted it took some time to adjust but feels he has now embraced the new structure.
“The more you play in it, the more you get used to it. I can also say that, in this system, I have grown a lot as a player.” — Matthijs de Ligt
He previously used a similar formation with the Netherlands national team, but playing in it week-in, week-out was a first at club level.
De Ligt – 2024/25 Season Stats (All Competitions)
| Match Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 42 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Tackles + Interceptions per 90 | 4.1 |
| Pass Accuracy | 90.2% |
What Comes Next for De Ligt?
De Ligt remains sidelined as he recovers from a muscle injury, but he’s expected to return in time for pre-season. His focus now turns to helping Manchester United regroup and improve under Amorim’s leadership in 2025/26.
Join the Debate
Was De Ligt Manchester United’s most consistent defender this season? Can he become a future captain at Old Trafford?
Drop your views in the comments and share this article with a fellow Red Devils fan.
2 Comments (last comment by JamesLove)
First read message
By JamesLove 6 Jun 2025 16:23
hé was at his best at Ajax and had 1 or 2 good seasons with Juventus, after that it was all bad actually. Don’t agree with him that he had a good season..
By Adem 6 Jun 2025 16:21
Say what? haha
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