Former Manchester United star Jaap Stam is confident Matthijs de Ligt will have a very bright future under Ruben Amorim but warns there will be ‘question marks’ over the new manager.
After parting ways with Erik ten Hag this week, United have moved quickly to secure the services of the Sporting Lisbon head coach. A two-and-half year deal has been agreed with the 39-year-old set to arrive in Manchester in mid-November during the international break, with Ruud van Nistelrooy to remain in charge on an interim basis until then.
Amorim is regarded as one of the best young coaches in European football, developing his own football identity in the Portuguese capital where he won two league titles with Sporting.
But his imminent arrival has raised questions over the futures of a number of United’s current stars, particularly those specifically targeted by Ten Hag.
De Ligt is among them. Ten Hag’s presence was an integral factor in the Netherlands international joining United from Bayern Munich in the summer, noting his countryman is a coach ‘who knows how to get the best out of me’ after their success together at Ajax.
The 25-year-old has been tested in what has been a difficult start to his United career. But Dutch legend Stam believes his countryman has nothing to worry about regarding his future under Amorim, who favours a system with three at the back he could thrive in.
‘I think Matthijs has an even brighter future when Amorim comes in, especially if he decides to play with three centre-backs,’ Stam told Metro.
‘He can be one of those for sure, he can play in the right of that centre three or in the middle. There’s a lot of options. So I’m not afraid or worried for him. He’s got the ability, he has the ability to improve too. He does need to be more consistent in his playing style and needs to be more confident. That is what you get playing lots of games and playing more and more in a new league and of course that will come.’
Amorim has regularly used a 3-4-2-1 formation at Sporting, also using a 3-4-3 with two wide forwards. He has also occasionally tweaked that to a 3-5-2 but three at the back has been the foundation to his set-up.
While injuries have continued to be an issue this season, United will be blessed with options at the back when summer signing Leny Yoro returns to action, having suffered a fractured metatarsal during pre-season. With Harry Maguire also in the picture, Stam believes a formation change will be the natural next step.
‘The options are there for that system. De Ligt is there, Lisandro Martinez is there, Yoro is there. These are three very good players who can play in that system. Harry Maguire is an option who can play in the centre of those three too. So there are a lot of options.
‘But the biggest issue for me will be in midfield. What two will he use? It is a big question mark. Bruno could join Kobbie [Mainoo] in the middle of the park and then you have creativity and legs together in front of that back three. That would be the ideal partnership for me.’
Ten Hag’s time as United boss came to an end on Monday with two trophies in two seasons not enough to save his job after a miserable start to the 2024-25 season.
His success with Ajax before moving to Old Trafford draws parallels with that of Amorim, who is making the move from a similar standard of league to take on one of the biggest jobs in football.
Stam believes it is very much a repeat of the same situation in Manchester with questions marks hanging over the appointment.
‘You need to respect every manager who comes into the club,’ Stam said. ‘He has being doing well, winning trophies over there and he has a very clear mind on his philosophy and how he wants to play.
‘But that was the case when Erik joined United too. So it is more or less the same situation. He plays a different style in Portugal with five at the back or variations of that with wingbacks. There is always that question mark, will he be using the same players Erik had? Is the club going to bring in new players in January? They need to support the new manager.’
