With that in mind, what does he think of the much-debated system (3-4-2-1) that Amorim insists upon, with De Ligt the ever-present in the middle of the defence, and which the head coach says he will not change?
“We’re improving as a team,” De Ligt insists. “In modern football even if you play a back four almost all teams play by building with three defenders. And we do often defend with four defenders.
“It’s always easy to say ‘system this, system that’. But, in the end, it’s always adaptable in the game. There’s no situation where the system is always the same in the game. In that way of being flexible and in the structure we have to find a way to get everything right and make everything happen.”
Is there then too much focus on Amorim? “I don’t know. I don’t read all the things they say about the manager. But I think every player here and the staff feels that the pressure is on us,” De Ligt says.
Does he, therefore, avoid reading, watching and going on social media?
“I know several players, they say they don’t do that kind of stuff. I’m not that kind of guy,” De Ligt says. “I just watch it and, yeah, sometimes you get criticised, sometimes you get positive praise. As a footballer, it’s difficult because you live in a world where social media is so big, naturally, you get drawn into these kind of things.
“I do try to not read it, but then at the same time, I felt like I missed a little bit what also makes football fun. I like the game. I like to watch football also. If I completely shut myself out, I feel also not completely satisfied.
“It’s fun. That’s how we started. But obviously there’s always a balance. Every player, every fan loves the club. But it’s also a business and you have to win and especially at a club like United, you have to win.
“With more fun, the better you feel, the possibility of winning is bigger. So that’s my philosophy. But it’s all about winning.”
‘Premier League harder and harder for every team’
So, for such a self-confessed student of the game, what is United’s DNA?
“What makes United special is the connection with the fans. Quick football, I think,” De Ligt argues. “It’s a little bit a mix between English, old English football and the modern game. We want to play as United but we also want to get quick attacks, counter-attacks, pace, speed, ball in the box. You know what I mean? Really hard duels, tackles. That’s what I would call the DNA of Manchester United.”
United sit 10th. The win over Sunderland before the international break was not only timely, but means they believe they can look up the table, rather than down. Which makes the Liverpool fixture even more important.
“The Premier League right now is really close. Every team is close to each other. It’s getting harder and harder for every team because the opponents are better,” De Ligt says, citing the depth of talent – especially the attacking threat and match-winners – that every team possesses being the key difference to other leagues.
“I think if we can be at our best every game, we can really reach great things. What it is at the moment, I can’t tell. We’re obviously in a spot now that we are in between qualifying for the Champions League and like last season [when United finished 15th]. What we want to do is obviously get higher to the Champions League spots.”
De Ligt was surprisingly left out of the Dutch squad for their most recent World Cup qualifiers by coach Ronald Koeman, who said it was not an easy decision.
“Obviously, when you’ve been there for almost 10 years now, it’s always a disappointment when you’re not selected,” De Ligt says. “I think the only thing that’s important is to keep going like this. I think I’m in good form. Stay fit, I think that’s the most important thing, and at some point, the manager will also notice it and hopefully he can pick me.
“Does it make me more determined? What I want to say is the national team is a consequence of what happens at the club. It’s not the other way around. So, my focus is on Manchester United.”
