Matthijs de Ligt opens up on straight-talking relationship with Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim & pressure of playing for 'four of the biggest clubs in the world'

Amorim has faced questions over his long-term future at Old Trafford following an opening to the season which has seen United win just three of their eight games in all competitions. While the 20-time champions have tasted victory over Burnley, Chelsea and Sunderland, they have also been put to the sword by Arsenal, Manchester City, and Brentford, as well as League Two minnows Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup.

While United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has publicly backed Amorim to succeed within three years, the former Sporting CP manager believes he is still under pressure, saying there is no guarantee he will be given that amount of time to turn the club’s fortunes around.

Speaking ahead of United’s trip to rivals Liverpool on Sunday, Amorim said in a pre-match press conference: "He (Ratcliffe) tells me all the time, sometimes with a message after games but you know I know and Jim knows that football is not like that. The most important thing in football is the next game. You cannot control the next day. But it is really good to hear that. But also because of the noise. Omar (Berrada) and Jason (Wilcox) tell me that all the time. First of all I can feel it, it is not just that thing that people say, I feel it every day.”

But as United prepare to renew hostilities with old foes Liverpool, De Ligt has joined the club's hierarchy in backing Amorim, saying he believes the team are “improving” under his stewardship. 

In an interview with The Telegraph, De Ligt said: “I have a good relationship with him [Amorim] because of this [Amorim’s straight-talking style], because he’s quite direct and I am quite direct with him. It’s about honesty and also in honesty you can say things that are sometimes not so good and you accept that also, you know, because it’s the only way. Communication and clarity is the most important thing in a team.

“We’re improving as a team. In modern football even if you play a back four almost all teams play by building with three defenders. And we do often defend with four defenders.”

And when asked if he believes there is too much focus on Amorim, De Ligt added: “I don’t know. I don’t read all the things they say about the manager. But I think every player here and the staff feels that the pressure is on us.”

De Ligt knows all about the pressure of representing an elite club, having also played for European heavyweights Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich as well as United. First emerging through Ajax’s famed youth system in 2016, the 26-year-old spent three years at Juventus before joining Bayern in 2022. And following a two-year stint with the Bundesliga giants, De Ligt moved to United in 2024 and he is currently into his second season with the club.

Lifting the lid on what it is like to play for the biggest clubs in the world, De Ligt said: “I’ve been at clubs where the history is enormous. All four are among the top teams in Champions League history with the most points.

“What also happens is if the history is big, the club also expects you to be as the history is. And this is a bigger pressure than when you are at a club where maybe there’s less history and you have to create history.

“You feel that. You can feel also in the stadium, you know, you can feel like this nostalgia. But I love it... I’ve never played in a club where they didn’t expect me to win.”

United are aiming to build on their 2-0 league victory over Sunderland when they lock horns with Liverpool. Amorim’s side secured a crucial three points before the international break thanks to strikes from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko, with the latter having now scored two goals in his last two Premier League games following his summer move from RB Leipzig.