“He doesn’t really know the game” - Martin Keown takes aim at Manchester United star following poor Porto display
Martin Keown has criticized Manchester United star Matthijs de Ligt, saying the Dutchman lacks positional awareness and an overall understanding of the game. The Red Devils signed De Ligt from Bayern Munich this summer in a deal worth €50 million. The defender has so far struggled to solve Erik ten Hag's problems in defense and United fans have been infuriated with his performances.
Manchester United drew 3-3 against Porto in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday (October 3). Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford found the back of the net in the first period before Pepe and Samu Omorodion's goals leveled the scoreline at the break.
Omorodion then completed his brace in the second half and Manchester United looked set for a defeat. Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans replaced Lisandro Martinez and De Ligt with 10 minutes left in the encounter. While all hope seemed lost, the Red Devils salvaged a draw, thanks to Maguire's stoppage-time header.
De Ligt's performances so far this season (one goal in nine games) have not impressed Keown, who feels the defender will not thrive at Manchester United unless Ten Hag uses a back three.
The Arsenal icon told talkSPORT:
“He’s a great athlete but he doesn’t really know the game. He doesn’t know where to be. He doesn’t read the game well enough."
"You could say, put him as a marker, put him in a [back] three with Martinez. Put him there, two rottweilers, and put [Harry] Maguire in the middle and create a bit of solidity going to Villa Park. But I don't know if the manager’s really got it in his locker to want to play that way," he added.
The Red Devils played a goalless draw against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday (October 6).
"It’s quite remarkable" - Martin Keown in awe of transfer fees paid for Manchester United's Matthijs de Ligt throughout his career
Martin Keown cannot believe the expensive fees clubs have paid to sign De Ligt over the course of his career.
Before his reunion with Ten Hag at Old Trafford this summer, the Dutch boss managed De Ligt at Ajax. Together, the pair played an instrumental role in Ajax's excellent Champions League run to the semi-finals in 2019.
Juventus paid €75 million to sign De Ligt, who was 19 years old at the time. After three years in Turin, the Netherlands international joined Bayern Munich in a reported €80 million move.
With his move to Old Trafford this summer, the cumulative fees paid for De Ligt's services sums up to nearly €200 million, a figure that's left Keown in disbelief. He said in the same interview:
“De Ligt has come in, £200million has been spent on this player in transfer fees over the course of his career, it’s quite remarkable. He’s been at Juventus, he’s been at Bayern and Manchester United are the next club."