Jamie Carragher has heavily criticized Matthijs de Ligt for being “out of position all the time” as Manchester United’s struggles continue. De Ligt, a £43 million summer signing from Bayern Munich, reunited with his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag, but his start at Old Trafford has been far from smooth.
Despite some promising moments, such as scoring his first goal for United against Southampton, the team’s recent 3-0 loss to Tottenham exposed major weaknesses in De Ligt’s game. Carragher, on *Sky Sports*’ *Monday Night Football*, broke down De Ligt’s positioning during the match.While analysing Tottenham’s opening goal, Carragher highlighted how De Ligt failed to close down space, allowing his international teammate Micky van de Ven to burst into the penalty area and set up Brennan Johnson. Carragher commented:
“I’ve noticed this with De Ligt and a lot of centre-backs. I don’t understand why they don’t fill the space… If De Ligt goes over, Martinez comes across. He’s looking over his shoulder—forget that! It was a brilliant run, but van de Ven ran because he saw the space.”
Carragher also pointed to another moment when De Ligt was late in challenging Timo Werner, a repeated issue throughout the match. He noted that De Ligt’s positioning forces him into risky tackles, increasing his chances of receiving yellow and red cards.
Paul Scholes Questions De Ligt SigningCarragher isn’t alone in his doubts about De Ligt. Former United midfielder Paul Scholes has also criticized the Dutch defender, questioning whether he represents a significant upgrade over Harry Maguire. Scholes remarked:
“He might be slightly better, but it’s not a massive improvement where you think, wow.”
Both Carragher and Scholes believe that De Ligt’s early performances suggest United’s defensive issues may persist despite the hefty investment in the Dutchman..Matthijs de Ligt’s rough start at Manchester United has drawn heavy criticism from pundits like Jamie Carragher and Paul Scholes. Carragher, during *Sky Sports*’ *Monday Night Football*, focused on De Ligt’s poor positioning, particularly in United’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham. He pointed out how De Ligt failed to close down space, allowing Micky van de Ven to assist Brennan Johnson for the opening goal. Carragher noted that De Ligt’s hesitation to cover gaps often forces him into risky challenges, increasing his chances of disciplinary issues.
Paul Scholes also voiced his skepticism, suggesting that while De Ligt may be an improvement over Harry Maguire, the gap isn’t significant enough to resolve United’s long-standing defensive problems. This criticism underscores the pressure on De Ligt, who joined for £43 million from Bayern Munich to reunite with Erik ten Hag, yet has struggled to adapt at Old Trafford despite showing flashes of promise, such as scoring against Southampton. Both Carragher and Scholes believe United’s defensive woes may continue unless De Ligt can adjust his game quickly.
