Chris Sutton, a sports commentator for Mail Sport, recently had some sharp words for Matthijs De Ligt after the Manchester United defender found himself benched by manager Erik ten Hag.
United is grappling with their worst start to a Premier League season under Ten Hag, currently languishing in 14th place with just eight points after seven matches.
In their latest outing, the team played to a goalless draw against Aston Villa, a result that was largely thanks to the veteran performance of Jonny Evans, who stepped in at center-back.
This strategic shift came after Ten Hag decided to shake things up, especially following a rough stretch where United conceded six goals in just two matches against Tottenham and Porto.
A New Defensive Pairing
Harry Maguire started alongside Evans but left the match at halftime due to injury.
Despite the changes, the defense looked more stable than it had in previous games.
While Evans earned praise for his contributions, many fans and analysts couldn’t help but notice the near £100 million worth of center-backs sidelined in favor of the two older players.
On the latest episode of Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off! podcast, Sutton expressed his frustrations with De Ligt’s recent performances.
“[He’s] been in the gym too much,” Sutton remarked, talking with co-host Ian Ladyman.
“Most people need to hit the gym, but when De Ligt was at Ajax, he was not only strong but also agile and mobile. Now, he just looks clunky, doesn’t he?”
Ladyman chimed in with a rather vivid analogy, saying, “In the second half, De Ligt had all the mobility of an elephant.”
De Ligt’s Journey at United
The Dutch international joined Manchester United from Bayern Munich this summer for a hefty £43 million.
So far, he has made nine appearances, seven of which were in the Premier League.
Initially, it seemed he was set to be part of the first-choice defensive pairing alongside Lisandro Martinez, who also joined the club from Ajax two years ago.
When asked about the decision to bench De Ligt and others, Ten Hag downplayed the situation.
“No, nothing to do with needing more reliable center-backs,” he told Sky Sports.
He emphasized that while there is always pressure, it’s no greater than in any other match.
Ten Hag mentioned that every game is crucial and that the focus should remain on improving as a team, describing it as a process that requires calmness and composure.
What Lies Ahead for United?
In the match against Villa, Evans took on the role of left center-back, while De Ligt filled in for Maguire on the right after halftime.
Despite some struggles, he managed to fend off threats from players like Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rodgers in the second half.
As the international break approaches, fans are left wondering if De Ligt will regain his spot as a first-choice defender moving forward.
What’s next for Manchester United? Only time will tell, but they certainly have some serious rebuilding to do.
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