Mail Sport’s Chris Sutton has blasted Matthijs De Ligt as ‘clunky’ after he was dropped by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.
United are enduring their worst-ever start to a Premier League season under the Dutchman, sitting 14th in the top flight table after seven games with just eight points to their names.
Last time out, they drew 0-0 with Aston Villa, helped largely due to the performance of 36-year-old Jonny Evans at centre back as Ten Hag changed his first-choice defensive pairing.
Harry Maguire partnered the veteran until half time, when he went off injured, but United looked more assured at the back after conceding six goals in two games to Tottenham and Porto just days before.
Evans received praise for his performance but fans and pundits were also keen to point out that nearly £100million-worth of centre backs were stood down in favour of the duo, and Sutton, speaking on the latest episode of Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off! podcast, criticised De Ligt for his performances so far since joining United.
Chris Sutton has blasted new Manchester United defender Matthijs De Ligt as ‘clunky’
De Ligt was dropped for United’s draw with Aston Villa after a difficult run of form for the club
Mail Sport’s Sutton suggested the £43million defender has ‘been in the gym too much’
‘[He’s] been in the gym too much,’ Sutton told co-host Ian Ladyman. ‘I mean, most people need to get in the gym.
‘[But] when he was at Ajax and making his way and he came to the fore, not only was he strong, but he was agile, he was mobile.
‘He just looks clunky, doesn’t he?’
Ladyman, meanwhile, added: ‘De Ligt looked like had all the mobility of an elephant in the second half.’
Dutch international De Ligt, signed for £43m from Bayern Munich in the summer, has made nine appearances for United so far this season, including seven in the Premier League.
He appeared to be part of the first-choice pairing at the club alongside Martinez, who moved to Old Trafford two years ago from Ten Hag’s former side, Ajax.
‘No, nothing to do,’ Ten Hag told Sky Sports when asked if the double dropping was down to needing more reliable cente backs.
He added: ‘There is always pressure but no more pressure than in any other game, Porto was also a very important game and before we played Spurs, an important game, and Crystal Palace, where we played very good, so every game is important. Don’t make it too big, we are calm and composed.
‘Not only the team but everyone in the club. We don’t even raise this topic, we have to improve as a team and it’s a process.’
Jonny Evans (centre) and Harry Maguire (right) started the game in place of De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez
Martinez was part of the near-£100million pairing that lost their places for Sunday’s fixture
Erik ten Hag is under pressure to deliver results amid United’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season
Evans started as the left centre back in the game against Villa, with De Ligt slotting in for Maguire on the right at the break.
He managed to keep out the likes of Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rodgers in the second half despite struggling, and it remains unclear if he will be first choice after the international break.