Matthijs de Ligt gives three reasons why he can adapt to Rúben Amorim’s Manchester United system

Matthijs de Ligt has explained three reasons why he feels he can fit into Rúben Amorim’s new system at Manchester United.

Rúben Amorim is set to begin his role as Manchester United’s new head coach this week, having arrived at Carrington on Monday morning. He takes over after the club parted ways with Erik ten Hag late last month.

At 39, Amorim wasted no time making his presence felt, with Ruud van Nistelrooy and three other coaching staff members dismissed upon his arrival in Manchester.

Read More: Erik ten Hag ‘offered’ immediate management return following Manchester United sacking

Over the next two weeks, the new manager will assess the squad at his disposal before deciding on his preferred starting XI. His debut in the dugout will come against Ipswich Town away in the Premier League.

Amorim has already suggested he will implement his signature 3-4-2-1 formation from the outset, sparking speculation about which players will fit into his tactical plans.

De Ligt can fit Amorim’s system

Matthijs de Ligt has been fantastic at United across the last few months after a difficult start to life at the club after signing.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, he explained that he has already played the system in three different environments: for Juventus, for Bayern Munich, and for the Dutch national team.

“I’ve played in back three for the national team, but also Juventus and Bayern,” the 25-year-old explained. “In the end, like [against Leicester], we played in ball possession with a back three, so let’s see what happens,” he said.

“I think a back three or a back four, it’s in general the same, the only thing of importance is how the team is set up. You can play in a back three, but if everything is not compact and everybody is doing their own job, then it’s going to be really difficult, the same in a back four.

“That’s going to be the biggest challenge for the trainers, to get everyone on the same wavelength and same page to improve as a team and improve as players.”

The squad is capable

Amorim will now have two weeks to assess his squad before deciding who can fit into his system and who plays where during his first game against Ipswich Town, but De Ligt is confident it is a system that will succeed.

“I think the squad is capable of everything, back three, back four, as I said, the most important thing is how you play together, how you set up together,” he continued.

“Like [Sunday] for example, we play as a back four but in ball possession we play in a back three, so you have to get used to each other and if you play together it’s always easier.”

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