Manchester United's defender Matthijs De Ligt expresses optimism about future performances after concluding his inaugural season with the club.
Manchester United and Matthijs de Ligt's Second Season at Old Trafford
After a challenging debut season, Matthijs de Ligt is looking forward to his second year at Manchester United. The Dutch defender, who turned 25 in 2025, showed promising signs of recovery following a foot and knee injury that hampered his performance in the previous campaign.
De Ligt's return to form was evident on August 3, 2025, when he was deployed as a sweeper. He recorded a perfect duel win rate (4/4), along with 6 clearances and 3 interceptions, making him the best performing defender on the pitch that day. Despite missing the latter stages of the 2024-25 season due to injury, de Ligt managed to contribute an assist over 18 games and played key defensive roles in various competitions.
Meanwhile, Matheus Cunha, a technically skilled Brazilian player known for his speed and flair, had a successful first season at Wolves. The 33 appearances he made for the team in the 2024-25 Premier League season saw him finish as the team's top scorer with 15 goals and 6 assists. Cunha's 110 shots in the league were more than any of his team-mates, and he created 57 chances, again more than any of his team-mates.
Cunha's impressive performances have not gone unnoticed by de Ligt. The Dutch defender has expressed his admiration for the Brazilian's speed during training sessions.
Manchester United, on the other hand, had a disappointing 2024-25 season, finishing in 15th place in the Premier League. The team scored just 44 goals in 38 league games, with only Everton, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Southampton netting fewer. The season ended on a low note as United lost the Europa League final to Tottenham.
The new season begins at Old Trafford on August 17 against Arsenal. With de Ligt's impressive start to the second season and Cunha's potential transfer to the team, there is hope for a better performance from Manchester United in the upcoming season.
Bryan Mbeumo, who joined Manchester United for a reported transfer fee of £71m from Brentford, also looks set to make an impact. His 20 Premier League goals in the 2024-25 season ranked behind only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, and Erling Haaland.
De Ligt, however, remains cautious about his second season. He believes that as a center-back, he is still quite young, with his prime typically being at 28 or 29. Nevertheless, he is confident about his second season at Manchester United, saying "there's still a lot more to come."
[1] Source: Manchester United official website and various sports news outlets.
De Ligt's return to form in football, despite the foot and knee injury, has shown promising signs for the upcoming European-leagues season. His performance on August 3, 2025, hinted at a better season, with a perfect duel win rate and significant clearances and interceptions.
The environment at Old Trafford seems conducive to De Ligt's growth, with the potential signing of Bryan Mbeumo, who had an impressive 2024-25 season in the Premier League.
While De Ligt remains cautious about his age, he is optimistic about the second season at Manchester United, expressing confidence in the team's performance in terms of sports and health.
