Matthijs de Ligt: Manchester United defender says Ruben Amorim wants culture change at Old Trafford - ‘Before you had best players, not a team’

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has said he is a fan of Ruben Amorim's brutal honesty, suggesting it creates a sense of trust between player and manager. Having guided United to their worst Premier League finish this season, Amorim has publicly criticised his players on a number of occasions, but De Ligt believes this approach will benefit the Old Trafford side in the long run.

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Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has said he appreciates Ruben Amorim’s approach, despite it leaving the media "in shock".

After taking over in November, Amorim guided United to their worst Premier League finish, ending the season in 15th with 42 points.

The Portuguese manager has, at points, been publicly damning of his side, claiming they were "probably the worst in Manchester United history" in January, before saying his players were "chokers" following their recent defeat against a South-East Asia select XI.

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But Dutch defender De Ligt is a fan of his manager’s approach, saying it creates a feeling of "trust" between the pair.

The 25-year-old, who joined United last summer from Bayern Munich, told reporters: "I'm from Holland, so I like it.

"I can understand the media are in shock because normally this doesn't happen."

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De Ligt added: "But I think you can also be really happy that finally someone speaks out, says what he thinks and speaks the truth.

"I really appreciate him in our conversations personally. It gives me a feeling I can trust him and he can trust me."

United won seven league games from a possible 27 since Amorim took over, as they delivered their worst domestic campaign for over 50 years.

And following their UEFA Europa League final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, they will not be playing on the continent next season.

However, Amorim has the full backing of De Ligt, who believes his manager is focused on building a cohesive team rather than signing "the best players".

"I've experienced many managers and he's one of the most easy to talk to as a player," the defender said.

"He's really into details. Before signing new players, first he's looking at the culture, what needs to change and what can be improved to become a better football club. From next season we will see more of that.

"I think he wants to build a team of players who are together, fighting for each other and making the most out of what they have.

"Maybe before, you had the best players, but you're not a team."

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