De Ligt: Joining United Was an Easy Decision

After years of being linked with Manchester United, Matthijs de Ligt finally completed his move to Old Trafford this summer.

Reuniting with Erik ten Hag, his former Ajax coach, De Ligt shared with the club’s official site how straightforward the decision was to leave Bayern Munich for United.

“Yeah, obviously [he was] a really important part because he knows me really well, and I know him really well. He made me captain at Ajax and gave me a lot of confidence and motivation to lead the team.”

De Ligt praised Ten Hag’s demanding approach: “He expects a lot every day, in every training session. It’s not just about what happens on the pitch but also off it—how you behave, care for your body, rest, and sleep. He’s very focused on discipline, which aligns perfectly with how I view being a professional footballer.

This summer, when United came for me, and the manager showed he really wanted me — as did the club — it made the decision very easy,” said De Ligt. “It was a chance to play in the Premier League and join, in my opinion, the biggest club in English football history. For me, it was a straightforward choice.”

De Ligt acknowledges United’s recent success, winning two trophies in the past two years, but his ambitions extend beyond domestic cups.

“Winning two trophies in two years is obviously great, but I think everyone agrees that United should also be competing for the Premier League title. The goal is to challenge the other top clubs for that. It’s an exciting project, and I’m looking forward to helping the team as much as I can.

Source: https://therepublikofmancunia.com/de-ligt-it-was-an-easy-decision-to-join-united/