When Matthjis de Ligt faced a crisis of confidence over the summer he sought out a psychologist to make sense of the storm cloud hanging over him.
Failing to play a single minute at Euro 2024 despite the Netherlands going all the way to the semi-finals, and with Bayern Munich seemingly ready to move him on, the 2018 Golden Boy – given to the best player in Europe under the age of 21 – was beginning to feel like people were giving up on him.
‘These kinds of moments can be tough,’ he said over the summer.
‘By talking about it you make things lighter and you can put the energy back on the pitch instead of wasting it on those kinds of thoughts.’
What De Ligt, still only 25 despite making more than 350 career appearances, has learned above all else is to listen to those who uplift, rather than bury, you.
Matthijs de Ligt reunited with former manager Erik ten Hag at Manchester United this summer
The Dutchman is hoping to rediscover the form that made him one of Europe’s best defenders
De Ligt opened the scoring for Manchester United in their 3-0 victory over Southampton
In Erik ten Hag he has an ally, a cheerleader, that ranks only second to his wife Annekee.
Here at Southampton, fresh off the back of an international break where he was hooked at half-time against Germany, and called out by team-mate Virgil van Dijk for mistakes made, United’s £42.8million summer buy was starting, buoyed by the unshakeable confidence of his manager.
‘I’m not afraid for this situation,’ Ten Hag, who made De Ligt his captain at Ajax at the age of just 18, said in the lead-up to Saturday’s game.
‘I know his qualities, I know his personality and I know he’ll fight back.’
It was time for United’s travelling fans to see if the latest Dutchman through the door would sink or swim.
Despite an early scare when he was turned inside out in his own area, De Ligt settled in and made a goal-saving block at 0-0, banishing any demons he had contended with after games against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Germany, to show just how strong his mentality is.
Peeling off marker Jan Bednarek to nod in the opening goal which set United off for a crucial 3-0 victory, De Ligt produced a man-of-the-match performance on the same day Van Dijk, who warned his compatriot about the punishing nature of top level football, fell flat in Liverpool’s defeat at home to Nottingham Forest.
‘Sometimes you have a good game, sometimes you have a bad game but as long as you stay true to yourself, know what you’re doing, keep working hard then the results will come,’ De Ligt, who won 100 per cent of his aerial duals and finished with a 92 per cent pass accuracy, said afterwards.
Ten Hag has proved to be a vital ally and cheerleader for De Ligt as he regains his confidence
De Ligt delivered a man-of-the-match display after a tough international break with Holland
The centre-back spoke about the need to remain grounded and staying true to himself
‘I do that also. Sometimes it’s positive, sometimes it’s negative, but you have to keep going.’
He is particularly measured when he speaks, not wasting words. It’s striking just how composed he is days after being vilified in his homeland over his performances.
‘Obviously, I’m still not 100 per cent because I’m still new,’ he added. ‘I think the team also has a lot of new players who are also not 100 per cent but we try to get there as soon as possible and hopefully we can improve so we can get there as quick as possible.’
And the potential for this young United group?
‘It’s difficult to say. We just have to grow every day and we will see how it ends.’
Here is one win, the first of seven games in 22 days for Ten Hag’s side, but if De Ligt has learned anything through psychology it’s that keeping both feet on the ground is the formula for success.