September 11th 2024.
Matthijs de Ligt's recent performance for his new club, Manchester United, has been a cause for concern among fans and experts alike. The 25-year-old defender joined United for a whopping £38million in the summer transfer window, as part of the team's efforts to revamp their defense.
However, his first start for the club against arch-rivals Liverpool ended in a disappointing 3-0 defeat. Former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart, who is known for his outspoken opinions, believes that de Ligt has not been the same player since leaving his previous club, Ajax. He also expressed concerns about the young star's ability to hold onto a place in the first-team at United.
De Ligt's struggles continued during the international break, where he was at fault for both goals conceded by Netherlands in their 5-2 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina. In their next game against Germany, he was substituted at half-time after making a costly error that led to a goal for the opposition.
Van der Vaart acknowledges de Ligt's qualities as an elite center-back, but he believes that the defender is going through a tough phase in his career. He hopes that under the guidance of coach Erik ten Hag, de Ligt will regain his confidence and show the same form that made him a highly sought-after player.
With de Ligt's defensive partner, Leny Yoro, still recovering from an injury until November, he is in direct competition with Harry Maguire for a spot in the starting XI. Van der Vaart, who has been highly critical of Maguire in the past, admits that the Englishman has shown great mental strength after being stripped of the United captaincy last year.
He believes that Maguire could keep de Ligt out of the team as the season progresses, and that the defender will feel the pressure to perform. However, van der Vaart also acknowledges Maguire's recent good form and believes that he still has a big role to play at United.
In the midst of de Ligt's struggles, his new teammate Joshua Zirkzee has been making waves for the Netherlands. The young striker, who joined United for £36million from Bologna, scored his first senior international goal in their game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Van der Vaart, who has been impressed by Zirkzee's performances, believes that the striker will soon become the Netherlands' top striker. He praises Zirkzee's all-around game, not just his goal-scoring abilities, and believes that he will have a big impact at United.
Despite Zirkzee's potential, van der Vaart acknowledges that he is a different type of striker compared to Rasmus Hojlund, another young talent at United. While Hojlund's game relies heavily on scoring goals, Zirkzee offers more in terms of assists and overall contribution to the team.
In conclusion, van der Vaart believes that both de Ligt and Zirkzee have the qualities to succeed at United, but they need to regain their confidence and find their best form. He also commends United for their strong recruitment this season, bringing in talented players like de Ligt and Zirkzee.
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