“I have returned the Man of the match award to him because he deserved it more than me… He’s the best player I’ve ever played with so far”: Matthijs de Ligt shocked by his Man United teammate’s performance against Southampton
The phrase ‘professional job’ came to mind as Manchester United swept aside Southampton to claim only their second Premier League win of the season.
Three well-worked goals, a clean sheet, and some stellar displays from a few stand-out performers. A couple of typical injury scares aside, this was a day of welcome positives for an under-pressure Erik ten Hag.
But, of course, things could have been a whole lot different.
As Manchester United took their time to work their way into proceedings at St Mary’s, Southampton were gifted a glorious chance to take a shock lead on the half-hour mark when a struggling Diogo Dalot scythed down the electrifying Tyler Dibbling.
But Man United have a bonafide penalty-saving specialist these days.
Andre Onana’s latest spot-kick heroics not only denied Russell Martin’s side a 1-0 advantage, it also bought an end to Southampton as an attacking force. The Saints would not manage another shot on goal across the final 60 minutes.
Andre Onana saves penalty as Manchester United win
And Matthijs de Ligt – who played a major part himself in a second clean sheet of 2024/25 – was glowing in his praise for Onana after the Cameroon international laid the foundations for what would eventually become a far game than it initially looked.
“Obviously, really important (to win). I think if you get three points out the first three games, its not enough,” De Ligt tells TNT Sports (14 September, 2.30pm). “So there was some pressure on the game.
“I think we played very well. A big credit to Andre, he changed the game for us and a clean sheet, os obviously (that was) very nice.”
De Ligt, given the Man of the Match award by TNT, was an imperious presence at both ends of the pitch.
