Adrian Clarke analyses the key summer signings and the impact they could make at their new clubs in the Premier League this season.
Player analysis: Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui (Man Utd)
Manchester United’s tactical options have been greatly enhanced by the arrivals of De Ligt and Mazraoui from Bayern Munich.
Both are terrific defenders with valuable experience of handling the high expectations that come with representing a giant European club.
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The need to strengthen United's defensive resolve was obvious on the back of a campaign in which Erik ten Hag's ever-changing back four ended up conceding 58 goals.
Yet in some respects, the standout boost that De Ligt and Mazraoui will provide is their suitability to the Dutchman’s evolving approach when Man Utd have possession, rather than their ability without the ball.
Will they accelerate tactical change?
Ten Hag’s capture of ball-playing goalkeeper Andre Onana last summer signalled his intention to try and play out from the back with greater regularity.
While we saw minor improvements, United did not build from their goalkeeper as a matter of course, or make it a standout part of their tactical identity.
Injuries hampered progress, and with a constantly changing rearguard it was difficult to forge the chemistry required to play in synch in those dangerous areas.
De Ligt and Mazraoui are both accustomed to playing for teams who need them to receive passes inside the defensive third.
In the Bundesliga last season only one player had better pass accuracy than De Ligt, who successfully found a team-mate 93.9 per cent of the time.
In Premier League terms just one central defender could better that in 2023/24, with Chelsea's Thiago Silva leading the way on 94.7 per cent.
This means De Ligt is going to be very press-resistant.
De Ligt v Premier League defenders 2023/24
| Player | Pass accuracy |
|---|---|
| Thiago Silva | 94.7% |
| Matthijs de Ligt | 93.9% |
| Micky van de Ven | 93.8% |
| Ruben Dias | 93.7% |
The Dutchman, who has also played for Ajax and Juventus, can also clip accurate longer passes to team-mates.
United lacked quality in this department when they were pressed last season and frequently gave the ball away under duress.
As these statistical comparisons indicate below, De Ligt is better equipped to help United bypass the press.
With a long-pass completion rate of 61.5 per cent, the 25-year-old should help the Red Devils go from back to front with more quality when opponents are drawn onto them.
De Ligt v Man Utd centre-backs 2023/24
| Player | Succ. long passes | Long-pass completion |
|---|---|---|
| Matthijs de Ligt | 40 | 61.5% |
| Harry Maguire | 73 | 49.3% |
| Victor Lindelof | 26 | 49.1% |
| Raphael Varane | 29 | 45.3% |
| Lisandro Martinez | 10 | 37.0% |
| Jonny Evans | 17 | 32.1% |
| Willy Kambwala | 5 | 23.8% |
Mazraoui is also precise on the ball, achieving an 89.9 per cent passing accuracy in the Bundesliga.
He is a natural hybrid full-back who will slide into midfield during the build-up phase if asked - a ploy United used sparingly last season, unlike many of their rivals.
Mazraoui’s varied positioning and calmness on the ball should help them achieve more consistent success when playing out from the back.
Flexible performers
Many of the top sides have multiple players who can switch seamlessly between different positions.
Mazraoui and De Ligt tick those boxes, which will be a massive help to Ten Hag should his plans be impacted by injuries once again in 2024/25.
Morocco international Mazraoui is a right-footed full-back who is equally comfortable on the left or right flank.
He was outstanding at left-back against Arsenal in last season’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg, and is a viable option for Ten Hag when Luke Shaw is unavailable, which he currently is.
Mazraoui will also compete with Diogo Dalot for a spot at right-back.
He has supplied seven Bundesliga assists for Bayern across the past two campaigns, and he offers dynamism and creativity in his skillset too.
De Ligt is another versatile performer.
The Netherlands international is a natural right-sided centre-back who will complement Lisandro Martinez perfectly in terms of balance.
But he can also slide across to play on the left side of a pairing when necessary, as he sometimes did with Juventus in 2021/22 (see below).
Once the highly rated Leny Yoro returns from injury in November, we may see De Ligt to his left inside the heart of United’s back four.
Much-needed upgrades
For Man Utd to make progress this season they needed to make themselves more resilient.
Onana faced 196 shots in 2023/24, with Thomas Kaminski and Wes Foderingham the only goalkeepers who were busier, playing for relegated Luton Town and Sheffield United respectively.
De Ligt is strong in the air - a quality needed alongside the smaller Martinez - and aggressive in his duels. Regarded as "old school" by some, he is a centre-back who relishes the physical side of defending.
He also has enough recovery pace to allow United to hold a high line when they press.
For his part, Mazraoui is a well-balanced, reliable full-back who strengthens the squad.
It will be interesting to see if Ten Hag hands debuts to either of his new signings on Friday night, when Fulham visit Old Trafford.
Given their quality it will be a temptation to plunge them both straight into action in what could be a tricky Matchweek 1 test.
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