Matthijs de Ligt says it’s important that Manchester United move on from Erik ten Hag’s sacking and focus on the future.
The Red Devils dismissed Ten Hag in the aftermath of last month’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham United and subsequently appointed Ruben Amorim as the club’s first ever ‘head coach’.
With Amorim finishing up his work with Portuguese giants Sporting CP, United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy took the reins on an interim basis, picking up three wins in four matches including Sunday’s 3-0 win over Leicester City.
The Dutchman has now departed Old Trafford altogether, having been part of Ten Hag’s staff, and fellow countryman De Ligt admits that he feels bad for the way the latter’s career at the club was brought to an abrupt end.
After revealing his close relationship with Ten Hag, the former Bayern Munich defender conceded it’s time to move on as it’s impossible to continue progressing while living in the past.
“It’s always quite difficult in general if a manager gets sacked,” De Ligt said.
“I have a really good relationship with Erik. I really like him as a person as well as a human being. That way I felt the most bad for him because I know what he does every day to get the team performing so that’s quite difficult.
“In the end, you know what football is about. If the results are not there everybody needs to be questioned – the trainer, the players. In the end the trainer gets sacked, the players can stay, so we always have to look at ourselves.
“So, I feel really bad for him. In the end you have to keep going, you can’t stay in the past, it’s over now with him.”
Speaking about his own personal form, De Ligt added: “For me personally, I feel quite well. I think the last seven games I start to feel really into my rhythm, feeling important for the team. If you combine it with wins, it’s really nice.”
Amorim arrived at United’s Carrington training ground on Monday after ending his tenure at Sporting with a 4-2 over Braga, meeting key personnel ahead of the two-week international break.
The 39-year-old will have some time to implement his ideas ahead of a busy period of fixtures. A trip to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town will be Amorim’s first assignment, swiftly followed by an important Europa League tie with Bodo/Glimt.
A hectic December then kicks off with a home against Everton, before United travel to old enemy Arsenal for a midweek clash under the Emirates Stadium lights.
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