Paul Scholes’ critical feelings on one key first-team Manchester United player under Ruben Amorim continue to age like milk after the 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad.
Manchester United were in Europa League action on Thursday and the Red Devils travelled to the Reale Arena to face the Spanish side in their first-leg last-16 tie.
Ruben Amorim’s men took the lead in the second half after Joshua Zirkzee broke the deadlock, but the Red Devils were unable to hold onto their 1-0 advantage.
Real Sociedad received a penalty after VAR intervened and ruled that Bruno Fernandes was at fault for handball, with the referee pointing to the spot.
Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up for the La Liga club and the Sociedad captain sent Andre Onana the wrong from the penalty, with Sociedad finding the all-important equaliser.
Following United and Sociedad’s 1-1 draw, the Red Devils will host the Spanish club in the return leg of the round-of-16 tie at Old Trafford on Thursday next week.
READ MORE: Man Utd fans all saying same thing about Diogo Dalot after performance vs Real Sociedad, ‘polar opposite’ point proven
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Why Matthijs de Ligt has proven Paul Scholes wrong
Matthijs de Ligt was a standout performer for Manchester United in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in the Europa League.
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The 25-year-old Dutch centre-back played as the central defender in the three-man backline of Ruben Amorim’s tactical system for United.
With Noussair Mazraoui starting as the left-sided centre-back and Leny Yoro being out on the right, the pair linked up superbly well with Matthijs de Ligt.
De Ligt has shown his versatility this season by playing as both the right-sided centre-back and centrally, with Harry Maguire often playing in the latter role.
Due to Harry Maguire’s absence from United’s match with Sociedad, De Ligt stepped up as the central figure and produced a commanding display for the Red Devils.
Matthijs de Ligt's half by numbers vs. Sociedad:
100% pass accuracy
100% aerial duels won
100% tackles won
1 last man tackle
Well suited to centre CB in a back 3. 🇳🇱💯 pic.twitter.com/h3D5JfExe4
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 6, 2025
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Statman Dave on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, posted the former Ajax and Juventus defender’s impressive stats from the match.
De Ligt, who arrived at Old Trafford last summer from Bayern Munich, had 100 per cent stats in his pass accuracy, aerial duels won and tackles.
According to Statman Dave, the ex-Bayern Munich star won one last-man tackle, with De Ligt holding his own as the central defender in the three-man backline.
READ MORE: Man Utd fans have lot to say about Alejandro Garnacho after performance vs Real Sociedad, all noticed ‘repeat pattern’
What Paul Scholes said about Matthijs de Ligt looks worse now
Speaking to TNT Sports back in January, Paul Scholes claimed that he would be willing to sell Matthijs de Ligt while going through key United first-team players.
“He’s done okay of late, but I think I’d sell,” he said at the time.
Scholes hasn’t been afraid to pull any punches towards De Ligt and has continued to question whether or not United made the right call to sign him last summer.
De Ligt was reunited with Erik ten Hag in 2024 after United landed both him and Noussair Mazraoui in a combined deal worth nearly £60m from Bayern Munich.
The Netherlands international made a real name for himself under former United manager Erik ten Hag at Ajax after he inherited the captain’s armband.
De Ligt’s performances at United have arguably flown under the radar at Old Trafford this season due to the Red Devils’ poor Premier League campaign.