Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt praises Ruben Amorim’s blunt approach

“I can understand the media are in shock because normally this doesn’t happen.

“But I think you can also be really happy that finally someone speaks out, says what he thinks and speaks the truth.

“I really appreciate him in our conversations personally. It gives me a feeling I can trust him and he can trust me.”

United are reeling after their worst season domestically since the 1973-74 campaign.

There was no backdoor entry to the Champions League thanks to the Tottenham reverse, meaning United miss out on European football and the finances that come with it next season for only the second time since English clubs returned to Uefa competition in 1990.

After delivering just seven Premier League victories after arriving at the club in November, Amorim will start the new campaign under intense pressure.

However, De Ligt feels the work Amorim is doing around the first-team group will pay dividends.

“I’ve experienced many managers and he’s one of the most easy to talk to as a player,” he said.

“He’s really into details. Before signing new players, first he’s looking at the culture, what needs to change and what can be improved to become a better football club. From next season we will see more of that.

“I think he wants to build a team of players who are together, fighting for each other and making the most out of what they have.

“Maybe before, you had the best players, but you’re not a team.”