One struggling Utd star is in desperate need of confidence boost from Amorim, he’s just ‘creating issues’ | OneFootball

It’s safe to say no Manchester United player is covering themself in glory this campaign.

Prior to his setback, Amad Diallo was on course to be considered the side’s Player of the Season due to his emphatic performances when finally granted a starting role by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ruben Amorim.

Yet, the Ivorian livewire has sustained a gutting injury layoff, which is now expected to keep him sidelined until the summer. Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are the only out-and-out forwards left at Amorim’s disposal after Antony, Marcus Rashford and Ethan Wheatley were shipped out on loan in the winter window.

Amidst such a turbulent run of results, one Red has been singled out by Martin Keown for his lacklustre showings: Matthijs de Ligt.

The £43 million signing has struggled to adapt to the boss’ newly implemented 3-4-3 system – as has each centre-half. United’s backline has kept nine clean sheets in the 32 matches De Ligt has featured in, while the side has also conceded 51 goals in total across all competitions.

Keown lays into struggling De Ligt

De Ligt is now a mainstay at the back for Amorim. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

De Ligt became the first-ever defender to win the lucrative Golden Boy award in 2018. At the time, the then-19-year-old was one of the most coveted youngsters in world football – even more so after he captained Ajax to the Champions League semi-finals and a domestic double in 2018/2019.

His stocks have undoubtedly decreased since then, however – even despite representing European giants such as Juventus and Bayern Munich following his Amsterdam exit in 2019.

“I look at De Ligt [and] the amount of money they spent on him, by the way, is almost obscene for a centre-half,” argued Keown on talkSPORT.

“He’s playing like a robot. There are times he can clear the ball, and he puts it out for a corner. He just creates issues for the team.

“Ruben Amorim needs to empower him with confidence. I’m not seeing any of that with him.”

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