On the evening of October 6, the 7th round of the English Premier League (EPL) continued with Manchester United drawing 0-0 with Villa on the road. After the match, Premier League star Chris Sutton talked about United center back Derek De Ligt, who failed to make his debut in this match, in the Daily Mail's podcast, and criticized his performance, saying that he looked too clumsy and lacked mobility in defense.
Sutton said on the podcast, "I mean, while most players need to go to the gym to stay fit, it seems like de Ligt is spending too much time there. During his time at Ajax, he was not only strong, but he was very agile and mobile in defense. But look at him now, he looks quite clumsy in defense, doesn't he?"
As one of Manchester United's key reinforcements this summer, De Ligt carries high expectations from both the fans and the club. However, so far this season, he has made a total of 9 appearances for United, including 5 starts, and scored 1 goal. Despite his contribution in the offensive end, his performance in the defensive end has failed to meet expectations, which has triggered widespread concern and discussion in the outside world.
Sutton's criticism is undoubtedly a warning to the current situation of de Ligt. As a young central defender, De Ligt needs to adjust his form as soon as possible and improve his agility and mobility in defense to better adapt to the pace and intensity of the Premier League. At the same time, United's coaching staff also needs to plan and guide his training and matches more carefully, to help him get back to his outstanding performance at Ajax as soon as possible.
