Ruben Amorim has trusted young defender Ayden Heaven in recent weeks while Manchester United star Matthijs de Ligt has been out with an injury.
Manchester United currently occupy sixth place in the Premier League after 18 matches, sitting just three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
Assessing the campaign so far under Ruben Amorim is not straightforward. United are well positioned in the table and have picked up some significant victories, yet they have also surrendered points unnecessarily in several games.
Their recent form reflects that inconsistency, with two wins, two draws and one defeat from their last five matches. While it is not especially impressive, it is far from disastrous, and there have been encouraging signs for Amorim to build on.
One notable positive has been the emergence of Ayden Heaven, who has started five games in a row in the absence of the injured Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire.
What Amorim said about De Ligt’s main problem
De Ligt was the outstanding defender for United before he suffered an injury at the end of last month, with many fans lauding his performances at the back.
While Amorim was also clearly impressed by the Dutchman’s form, he recently explained how he wanted improvements in regard to the 26-year-old’s passing.
“I think he’s (De Ligt) playing really well,” Amorim said last month. “I think he can play so much better with the ball; he needs to regain that confidence that I remember seeing when he was at Ajax.
“He needs to return a little bit back in that part of being confident, to be the guy that controls the tempo of the game”.
De Ligt is excellent when tasked with defensive moments but he has been criticised for being too safe on the ball, which is something that can limit teams who want to dominate play.
Why Amorim’s comments are good news for Heaven
Amorim’s previous comments on De Ligt’s ball-playing could be good news for Ayden Heaven, who has looked impressive in recent games.
Heaven’s most impressive attribute has been his comfortability in possession. He used to play in midfield in the academy for Arsenal and it is not surprising.
The teenager is calm on the ball and willing to fire passes between the lines. Amorim has claimed that it will be ‘really hard’ for him to lose his spot in the team if he continues building on his current form.
De Ligt and Harry Maguire are set to return soon but Heaven is clearly making a case to continue starting even when the experienced defenders are back.
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