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At a time when MU was seriously lacking a leader, Matthijs de Ligt showed his leadership qualities. |
For years, Manchester United have been lost in the very shirt they once prided themselves on. A team accustomed to living in an atmosphere of leaders - from Roy Keane to Nemanja Vidic - has become fragile, lacking in character and lacking the person to pull the team back up after every mistake.
But at a time when it seemed like the fighting spirit had died down, Matthijs de Ligt was gradually rekindling the energy that Old Trafford had lost for too long.
De Ligt's value
De Ligt arrived at MU with doubts. After his knee injury at Bayern, many doubted his ability to rebuild in the Premier League, a tournament more brutal than any the Dutch star had experienced.
But in the first 11 games of the season, the Dutch centre-back has played every minute, taking over the role of defensive leader with ease and confidence. When United collapsed at the end of Ten Hag’s reign, then faltered in the early weeks under Amorim, it was De Ligt who stood firm, despite the storms that raged around him.
What sets De Ligt apart is not his screams or his powerful gestures. What he brings is calm in chaos, an icy reading of the situation amid the waves of attacks, and a fighting spirit that never negotiates.
The game against Tottenham before the international break was the highlight. United were pressed throughout the second half, but De Ligt kept the defence strong with a series of well-timed interventions. And then, in injury time, he jumped high to head home the crucial point, a goal that showed character, the mark of a player who refuses to give up.
That moment not only saved MU, but also said a lot about De Ligt's nature. A true leader is not just someone who talks a lot in the dressing room, but someone who knows how to stand up at the right time, when his teammates look around and see no other way out.
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De Ligt has the typical Dutch spirit: disciplined, rational, but also full of pride and ambition. |
With Bruno Fernandes likely to leave Old Trafford if an offer from Saudi Arabia becomes attractive enough, and Casemiro, even if revived, unlikely to stick around long-term, MU is facing the question: who will be the new captain? The answer, if looking at the present, is too obvious.
Don't be surprised if De Ligt becomes MU captain
De Ligt has the typical Dutch spirit: disciplined, rational, but also full of pride and ambition. He matured early at Ajax, experienced enormous pressure at Juventus and then Bayern, places that require players to be strong both technically and mentally. For MU, that is a precious gift. Ruben Amorim does not need to train a new leader from scratch; he just needs to put De Ligt in the right position to let that leadership ability spread.
After the Tottenham game, the image of De Ligt walking into the VIP area to meet Micky van de Ven, his compatriot and close friend, and receiving congratulations from his opponent’s family was a vivid illustration of his influence. Respect from opponents does not come naturally; it is a result of his form, his temperament and the way he carries himself under pressure.
Manchester United are still far from being a force to be reckoned with. But to be reborn, they need solid foundations. De Ligt is becoming one of those rocks: steady, confident and ready to step up when all around him falters.
The Manchester United captaincy, after so much controversy and disappointment, may finally find a new form. And if that happens, no one will be surprised that Matthijs de Ligt is the one chosen. Because that armband, more than anyone, is looking for the most deserving person.
Source: https://znews.vn/mu-tim-thay-thu-linh-moi-trong-hinh-hai-de-ligt-post1605413.html
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