Manchester United's recent struggles have sparked discussions about the responsibility of players and management. Matthijs de Ligt emphasises that players must take accountability for their performances, defending Ruben Amorim's tactical choices. Despite criticism of Amorim's 3-4-3 formation, De Ligt believes focus and concentration on the field are crucial factors.
United's defeat to Brentford, where they lost 3-1, leaves them in 14th place in the Premier League with seven points from six matches. This loss extends their winless streak in away games to eight, marking their worst run since 2019. During this period, they have conceded first in 21 league matches under Amorim.
The Red Devils' inconsistency is evident as they managed a victory against
Chelsea but suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. Additionally, they faced an embarrassing exit from the EFL Cup after losing a penalty shoot-out to Grimsby Town. De Ligt acknowledges these setbacks but stresses the importance of unity and learning from mistakes.
Amorim has faced criticism for sticking to his preferred system despite poor results. Since his appointment last November, only Tottenham has earned fewer points than United among ever-present Premier League clubs. However, De Ligt argues that tactical issues are not the sole problem; player concentration during key moments is equally significant.
200 - Today was Ruben Amorim's 200th top-flight game as a manager. He has lost three more of his 33 Premier League games with Manchester United (17) than he did in 167 Primeira Liga matches (14). Standards. pic.twitter.com/Qz4jVWrCER
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 27, 2025
De Ligt states, "Of course, it's always easy to look to the manager but, in the end, the players on the pitch have to do it. " He highlights that discussions often focus on systems rather than player execution during critical moments.
Focus on Improvement
Reflecting on their recent performances, De Ligt notes that losing against Brentford was a significant setback following their win over Chelsea. He insists that analysing what went wrong is vital for future success. "If you lose this game, it's a big blow," he said. "A lot of times, it is the same song, but we have to stick together. "
As Manchester United navigates these challenges, both players and management must address issues collaboratively to improve their standing in the league. The emphasis remains on teamwork and learning from past errors to achieve better results moving forward.
