Manchester United are not making life easy for Mathis de Ligt to shine, often forcing him to go back to the basics.
That’s according to Manchester United icon [Jaap Stam in Algemeen Dagblad](https://www.ad.nl/voetbal/jaap-stam-ontleedt-zijn-opvolgers-beter-een-blijvertje-van-90-miljoen-dan-een-goedkopere-die-niet-slaagt~af06e8a3/),who believes there is more to come from the defender after he worked alongside him at Ajax.
The 26-year-old has been a regular for Manchester United since joining in a €45m deal from Bayern Munich last summer.
The hope had been that he would prove to be the stabilising influence that Manchester United’s defence has long needed but he often found himself coming in for criticism last season as United’s struggled under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.
That was not entirely the Dutchman’s fault, indeed he was often among the better performers, but there is a feeling that there is still more to come from him.
He was once vaunted as the next big thing after shining at Ajax as part of the team tat thrilled under Erik ten Hag, particularly in the Champions League. Big moves to Juventus and Bayern Munich failed, though, and he’s yet to hit those standards at Manchester United either.
Stam has been watching closely, and he actually feels that it’s not entirely De Ligt’s fault, but rather what’s happening around him.
“Against Arsenal, Matthijs was traditionally strong and accurate,” he said.
The tricky thing at United is that it’s hard to see what’s expected of defenders. It’s often a deadlock. The conditions to excel aren’t really created.
“You can’t really talk about potential anymore. Matthijs is smart and mature and should be a key player by now. I sometimes miss the confidence in defense and in the build-up that he had at Ajax.
“But I’m sure he still has that. Sometimes you’re insecure because of what’s happening in front of you. I know that feeling. Always covering for you and expecting the same in return but not getting it.
“Then he goes back to the basics, even though he’s a fantastic defender who keeps going. I hope he continues this trend, and we’ll see the old Matthijs again.”