Matthijs de Ligt has given a glimpse into the Manchester United dressing room's feelings towards Ruben Amorim following a slow start to the Premier League season. United currently sit 10th in the table after seven matches, having only secured three victories.
The 2-0 triumph over Sunderland before the international break provided some relief for Amorim after he had been tipped as one of the favourites for the sack by bookies. This weekend sees United heading to Anfield to face Liverpool.
They will be aiming to add to the woes of Arne Slot, whose side has suffered defeats in their last three outings. Last year, Amorim managed to secure a 2-2 draw against the soon-to-be champions on Merseyside, thanks to a late equaliser from Lisandro Martinez.
Speculation continues to swirl around Amorim's future at Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes recently confessed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe's support of Amorim brings a sense of stability to the club.
De Ligt, who joined the club just prior to Amorim taking the reins nearly a year ago, echoed Fernandes' sentiments, revealing his relationship with the United manager. In an interview with The Telegraph, the Dutch defender highlighted the significance of open communication between the players and the gaffer.
"I have a good relationship with him [Amorim] because of this, because he's quite direct and I am quite direct with him," he said. "It's about honesty, and also in honesty, you can say things that are sometimes not so good, and you accept that also, you know, because it's the only way. Communication and clarity are the most important things in a team."
De Ligt also spoke about Amorim's unwavering commitment to his 3-4-2-1 system, which he has publicly stated he won't be changing. "We're improving as a team," the defender said.
"In modern football, even if you play a back four, almost all teams play by building with three defenders. And we do often defend with four defenders.
"It's always easy to say 'system this, system that'. But, in the end, it's always adaptable in the game.
There's no situation where the system is always the same in the game. In that way of being flexible and in the structure, we have to find a way to get everything right and make everything happen."
Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
