Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has opened up about the two primary reasons for his significant improvement in form this season, following high praise from club legend Rio Ferdinand.
Ferdinand's Praise and Defensive Impact
The 26-year-old Dutch international has become an indispensable figure in United's back line, starting all 11 of the Red Devils' Premier League matches this campaign. His performances have been hailed as among the team's best during a period of gradual improvement under manager Ruben Amorim.
Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents show, the former United and England centre-back didn't hold back in his admiration. 'De Ligt has been our best defender this season,' Ferdinand stated. 'He is even adding goals for us, like the last-minute goal against Tottenham the other day.'
Ferdinand further highlighted the defender's tactical intelligence, noting: 'In terms of his press, he's assertive and has the willingness to go into foreign areas of the pitch to defend at the right times. His clearing out of his box is brilliant.'
De Ligt's Personal Revelation
Despite his extensive experience from spells at Ajax, Juventus, and Bayern Munich, plus over 50 caps for the Netherlands, De Ligt believes he's only now entering his peak years. This explains his elevated performance level after what he admits was an underwhelming first season at Old Trafford.
'I'm 26 now and I think I'm entering the best years of my career, both physically and mentally,' De Ligt told NOS Sport.
The defender revealed a crucial shift in his approach: 'I've changed my mindset. Initially, I didn't want to make mistakes, now I want to do as many good things as possible.'
He pointed to overcoming fitness concerns as another critical factor: 'There are a few explanations for that. I've had quite a few injuries in recent years, which took a toll on my confidence in my body.'
'This year, I was able to participate in the entire pre-season,' he continued. 'I know the club and the league better, and you feel more confident and can be more dominant.'
De Ligt has also returned to his preferred training methods: 'I'm actually doing more strength training again now, just like I used to. So I don't care about that kind of criticism anymore. I've been through a lot and now know what's good for me.'
International Recognition and Manager Relationship
His resurgence hasn't gone unnoticed on the international stage. Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has recalled him to the squad after previously omitting him, citing improved composure.
'He didn't look confident in his play, and I told him so,' Koeman explained. 'He's calmer now, and I felt I should include him again.'
De Ligt also praised his relationship with United boss Ruben Amorim, highlighting their direct communication style as a key factor in the team's development.
'I have a good relationship with him because he's quite direct and I am quite direct with him,' De Ligt told The Telegraph. 'It's about honesty and also in honesty you can say things that are sometimes not so good and you accept that also, because it's the only way.'
He added: 'Communication and clarity is the most important thing in a team. We're improving as a team.'
United's current form shows promising signs, sitting seventh in the Premier League table and undefeated in their last five matches, suggesting De Ligt's personal improvement is contributing to broader team progress.
