"I'm not afraid or worried for him" – Jaap Stam names Manchester United defender who will benefit from Ruben Amorim appointment
Ex-Manchester United centre-back Jaap Stam has insisted that Matthijs de Ligt will adapt well to incoming Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim's style of play.
De Ligt, 25, has yet to perform at his best level at the Red Devils since arriving in a move worth up £43 million from Bayern Munich earlier this summer. He has helped his new club keep five clean sheets in 13 overall appearances this season, scoring one goal in the process.
With Amorim expected to use a three-man defence at Manchester United, Stam is of the opinion that the Dutch defender will shine at club level soon. The three-time Premier League winner told Metro:
"I think Matthijs has an even brighter future when Amorim comes in, especially if he decides to play with three centre-backs. He can be one of those for sure, he can play in the right of that centre-three or in the middle. There are 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."
Stam, who won the UEFA Champions League in 1999, continued:
"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."
Asserting that the Red Devils have enough depth, Stam added:
"The options are there for that system. De Ligt is there, Lisandro Martinez is there, [Leny] 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."
De Ligt is next likely to start Manchester United's Premier League home encounter against high-flying Chelsea this Sunday (November 3).
Who is the incoming Manchester United boss?
Ruben Amorim, who started his managerial career at Portuguese outfit Casa Pia in July 2018, is considered to be one of the best young managers in the world. Owing to his success at Sporting CP, he was heavily linked with Liverpool and Chelsea in April earlier this year.
The 39-year-old tactician has guided Sporting to five trophies since joining them in March 2020. He has helped them lift the Primeira Liga title two times, once in 2021 and again in a fine manner last season, so far.
So far this season, the incoming Manchester United manager has helped Sporting register 13 wins and just one loss in 15 total matches. The Portuguese champions have scored 43 goals and shipped just nine.