De Ligt reviews growth under Amorim

The Dutch international defender gave a strong endorsement of Amorim’s philosophy: that United may need to endure some painful results as we develop because the end goal will be worthwhile.

De Ligt was speaking to United Review ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match with AFC Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

The 25-year-old had featured in every one of Amorim’s games in charge until illness ruled him out of our midweek Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. He’ll hope to be back available for the visit of the Cherries, having played an important role in our last league game: a memorable and meaningful 2-1 victory at rivals Manchester City.

“It’s a really nice feeling and a really important win for us,” said De Ligt.

“It was really good, but I think we quickly realised that of course it was a good, important win but we have to look forward because there are a lot of important games coming up and I think we’re not in a place to relax too much, especially in the table where we are right now.”

United currently sit 13th in the league table, but are only six points off the top four due to the division’s congested middle section.

Last weekend’s result earned a valuable three points, but will also have a greater impact on the rest of the campaign.

“I read a stat that it’s a long time ago that United won against a top-six team [away] in the last years,” De Ligt said.

“So I think to get this belief into the team, into the guys that: ‘Hey, we are United – of course we can win against teams where you normally should win, but we can also win against teams that are, on paper, maybe at the moment a little bit stronger or further in their development.’

“So to get this win and this feeling inside the group that: ‘Hey, we start to believe that the way we are doing things is working’ is a really good feeling.

“I think the most important thing is that we are growing as a team. You feel that [and] I think you see it on the pitch as well. There were some results in the last couple of games that could have been better but the feeling in the group is that we’re growing as a team and we’re starting to understand a bit more the way the trainer wants us to play. I think we also start to understand each other better in the system.

“That’s the most important thing: that you always try to keep growing. If you win games without growing, you will not become the best version of yourself. I think the focus in the first weeks was on growing, then you see the results will slowly come. Hopefully we can build on that and start getting better results.”

You can read De Ligt’s interview in full in Sunday’s United Review. Order your copy here, or buy it at Old Trafford on matchday.