'Most important thing' - Matthijs de Ligt reiterates Ruben Amorim message to Man United teammates
Latest Manchester United news and gossip as Matthijs de Ligt provides insight into how the dressing room is adjusting to Ruben Amorim's coaching methods
Matthijs de Ligt has lift the lid on the dressing room impact that Ruben Amorim has made in the first month as Manchester United's head coach.
United appointed the Portuguese head coach last month following the departure of Erik ten hag from the Old Trafford dugout. The Reds are currently 13th in the Premier League table and will be aiming to secure European qualification in Amorim's first season in charge.
He has already overseen a win over Manchester City in the Manchester derby last week in the Premier League. However, days later the Reds were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the quarter-final stage by Tottenham Hotspur.
De Ligt was not involved in United's defeat to Tottenham due to illness but has otherwise been selected by Amorim in every match since the 39-year-old took charge at the start of November. Andre Onana and Bruno Fernandes are now the only two players to feature in every match for United since Amorim arrived at Old Trafford.
With mixed results across his first month as United boss, De Ligt has highlighted the positives that can be taken from recent results. The centre-back believes that he and his teammates are already understanding the system that Amorim is looking to employ, with the former Sporting boss stressing that it will take time to implement his ideas.
“I think the most important thing is that we are growing as a team," De Ligt told United Review via the club's website.
"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 [Amorim] 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.”
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to lock horns again on December 21 with the Brit attempting to avenge his defeat by the Ukrainian in May. Victory for Fury could also set up a huge domestic showdown with bitter rival Anthony Joshua next year