Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has revealed he has a “really good relationship” with Ruben Amorim and agrees with the Portuguese coach’s assessment that no European football next season will benefit the team.
De Ligt, 25, joined the Red Devils last summer from Bayern Munich in a deal worth a potential £42 million. Moroccan fullback Noussair Mazraoui also swapped Bavaria for Manchester at the same time as Erik ten Hag targeted two of his former pupils at Ajax in a double raid.
But while both defenders remain at United, their Dutch coach has since departed, dismissed by INEOS after a 2-0 defeat against West Ham in the Premier League in October last year.
Amorim, Sporting CP’s manager, was headhunted by chief executive Omar Berrada to replace Ten Hag and arrived in November to take the helm at Old Trafford.
But the 40-year-old coach has endured a torrid time at the Theatre of Dreams which quickly morphed into a Playhouse of Nightmares for Amorim as he oversaw the completion of United’s worst season in the Premier League era.
United were 14th in the league table when Amorim took over Ten Hag but dropped one spot to a 15th-place finish. Early exits from the FA Cup and Carabao Cup were capped off by a dismal loss in the final of the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao.
The defeat confirmed there will be no European football at Old Trafford next season – a devastating blow to the club’s revenue at a time when the financial situation is fraught.
However, there is a more optimistic counterview that less games means more time on the training pitch for Amorim to continue to mould his new squad, as former Red Devil Lee Sharpe told The Peoples Person in an exclusive interview.
Amorim has expressed this idea of no European football being an “advantage” in a recent interview.
And it’s mirrored by De Ligt, who believes it is something United can “exploit” next season while revealing he has a “really good relationship” with Amorim as the coach is “really open” with the 25-year-old defender.
“But I think, for the manager, there’s more time to train, more time also to have an intensive tactical session, because you can still train tactical if you play a lot of games but you cannot put the intensity in because you’re playing, every two days, a game.
“So, I think in that way, as the manager said, it could be an advantage and hopefully we can exploit that.”
In a glittering career playing for some of Europe’s behemoths, including Ajax, Juventus, and Bayern, De Ligt has only missed out on European football once before. “Well, I experienced it once. It was actually also after a Europa League final.”
The final in question? When Jose Mourinho’s United side defeated Ajax 2-0 in the 2016/17 season to lift the trophy for the first time in the club’s history. But the year after this absence, Ajax reached the Champions League semi-final under, ironically, Ten Hag, playing a blistering style of football which blew away Juventus and Real Madrid en route.
“The season after [the defeat to United], we reached the semi-final of the Champions League. So, let’s keep that. A good sign.
“On a serious note, I’ve been used to playing in the Champions League for my whole career, more or less. This season was the Europa League but it was also really nice. We reached the final and unfortunately, we couldn’t win it.”
“Next season will be different with less games,” De Ligt concludes. Fans will certainly be hoping so after a miserable campaign which brought the United faithful close to breaking point at times.
Manchester United’s goalkeeping department is set to be a major talking point this summer.
Among United’s many struggles in the 2024-25 season, poor goalkeeping stood out as a key weakness alongside their misfiring attack.
Instead of showing improvement after a shaky first season, André Onana became increasingly erratic, with clear flaws in his decision-making, positioning, and command of the penalty area.
His ball-playing skills and composure under pressure, the attributes that convinced Erik ten Hag to bring him in, ultimately proved irrelevant.
Repeated errors have cost United crucial results.
While Ruben Amorim occasionally turned to Altay Bayindir, his lack of match sharpness after months on the bench meant he too failed to convince.
Amorim’s requirements for a new number one
United are expected to move for a top-class shot-stopper this summer.
According to Give Me Sport, Amorim has outlined his vision for a first-choice goalkeeper to the club’s recruitment team.
The former Sporting CP manager is prepared to move away from the modern preference for ball-playing goalkeepers and revert to traditional goalkeeping fundamentals.
Rather than seeking a contemporary goalkeeper, Amorim wants a dependable presence between the posts.
He is looking for someone strong in core attributes such as shot stopping, handling, and error minimisation.
This new custodian must bring calmness and stability to United’s backline, providing assurance and reducing the defensive uncertainty that has plagued the team in recent seasons.
Onana’s future in doubt
The profile Amorim is looking for in his number one is precisely what Onana has failed to deliver.
The Give Me Sport report suggests that United are keen to sell Onana, but they highlight that offloading the £47 million signing from 2023 will not be straightforward.
His transfer fee, wages, and reputation complicate the prospect of an easy exit.
That said, INEOS are considering cashing in on him. If they cannot secure a sale, they are expected to bring in a capable replacement for Bayindir, who is set to depart.
This new addition would provide serious competition for Onana, ensuring that United’s goalkeeping struggles are firmly left behind.
Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has demanded accountability, insisting that he and his teammates have to look in the mirror following the Europa League final heartbreak vs. Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham ended their 17-year wait for a trophy as Brennan Johnson’s first-half goal proved enough to beat United in the European final at San Mames.
The Red Devils looked lifeless and uninspired – a puzzling display given their repeated pre-match claims of wanting to win the competition for the fans.
Even Fernandes, who has been one of the very few positives this term, endured a difficult game and he was not as influential as he usually is.
After the final whistle, the dejected Portuguese playmaker spoke to Hayters and gave his verdict on the game as well as what has been a truly calamitous campaign.
Fernandes said, “First of all, we need to look at what we did this season, everything that went wrong in every in every point, in every department, in every moment of the season.”
“Everyone has to look at themselves. I need to be the first one to look at myself, understand what I can do more to help the club to to become the club we were in the past.”
“I want, as everyone in that dressing room, wants to bring the club back where they deserve. And obviously it is a very disappointing day, because we couldn’t get a trophy for this club to try to make something positive from from a disappointing season.”
“But obviously, we need to look at ourselves, understand whatever each one of us can do to help the team to become better.”
Fernandes explained that even winning the Europa League would not have saved United’s season.
“It doesn’t change anything. Our season was bad, and it won’t change by the fact that we lost today. Obviously, winning today will give a little bit of of something bright, of something positive to the season, but won’t change that our season was very negative.”
“We had a very good competition until here, but obviously that is in the past, and unfortunately we know we’re not the winners and we’re not not going to be remembered for that.”
“So I think it’s very disappointing, a very difficult day for us. It was a competition where we had a big ambitions, but unfortunately, it wasn’t our day.”
Head coach Ruben Amorim will lead his side into Sunday’s final Premier League clash against Aston Villa with major doubts looming over his ability to turn things around at the club, following what has been United’s worst season since they were relegated in 1973/74.
Old Trafford was witness to yet another magical European night as Manchester United came back from a goal down to thrash Athletic Club 4-1 in the Europa League semi-final second leg on Thursday.
An aggregate win of 7-1 against La Liga’s meanest defence is no mean feat and sets it up brilliantly for the final against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao in 13 days’ time.
Despite an aggregate 3-0 lead, it was a tough start for the hosts as the Basque side dominated the first 45 minutes, getting a goal in the 31st minute.
They put the home side under a lot of pressure at the start of the second half, which Leny Yoro helped weather on his own at times. That prompted Ruben Amorim to make a triple substitution, which changed the game completely.
Brilliant cameo
Mason Mount grabbed a brace, while Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund got in on the act as well. And the head coach did not fail to mention Amad’s contribution as well.
In 27 minutes, he grabbed the assist for Hojlund’s goal, which he put on a plate for the Dane after fabulous work down the right.
His ability to maneuver in tight areas and dribble past players is magical to witness and on Thursday, he completed a 100% of his dribbles during his cameo.
He had one shot which was blocked while three of his touches were inside the penalty box while one of his passes was into the final third.
Selection dilemma for Amorim
Not only with the ball, the Ivorian was class off it as well, recovering the ball twice while winning all his ground duels as well as aerial duels (all stats via fotmob).
This display will certainly make Amorim think about who he is going to start either side of the attacker against Spurs at the San Mames on May 21.
While Alejandro Garnacho runs straight at defenders, and is very direct, the Ivory Coast international can do a lot of different things and it is good for the head coach to have multiple options ahead of the biggest game of the season.
Amad’s return from injury has been timed just right with the 22-year-old netting once and assisting one in his last two substitute appearances.
Journalist Simon Phillips reported on his Substack that both Liverpool and Manchester City have been keeping a close watch on Palmer ahead of the upcoming transfer window. ..Continue Reading
City are also said to have made an official inquiry about signing the talented Chelsea midfielder.
Palmer excelled during the first half of the campaign under new manager Enzo Maresca, netting 13 goals and registering six assists before the turn of the year.
However, his form has dipped in 2025, managing just one goal—a strike in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on January 14—sparking concerns about how he fits into Maresca’s tactical approach.
In The Telegraph, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher weighed in on Palmer’s future, discussing the potential of a move to Anfield, even though such a transfer remains unlikely.
He said: “It surprises me that no-one has argued that Palmer should be on the new champions’ radar.
“Far-fetched? Too expensive? Most likely. Liverpool ‘going big’ for footballers who are already established on mammoth and long contracts elsewhere is not their strategy.”
In addition to Carragher’s observations, Palmer is still bound to Chelsea for the next eight years, following the record-breaking nine-year contract he signed last summer.
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old has already expressed his thoughts on the newly crowned Premier League champions.
Speaking in October ahead of the Premier League game between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield, which the Reds went on to win 2-1, Palmer told club media: “I just remember the Anfield crowd from our last game there.
“They had a great team then, and they’ve got a great team now, so it will be a difficult game if we’re not 100 per cent on it.
“As a boy from Manchester, you’re aware of the relationship between both cities. It’s a bit of a rivalry. Everyone knows what their stadium is like, what their fans are like and what their team is like.”
Andre Onana’s start to life as a Manchester United player was far from smooth, with huge errors in the Champions League causing the Red Devils to crash out in the group stages last season.
The Cameroonian was expected to come into his own in his sophomore campaign, but things have been far from smooth with the shot-stopper continuing his trend of making high-profile mistakes both in Europe and in the Premier League.
Former United midfielder Nemanja Matic had termed him the worst keeper in the club’s history, with many pundits opining that Ruben Amorim must let him go in the summer.
Now, former assistant manager Mitchell van der Gaag, who along with former boss Erik ten Hag brought the Cameroon international to the club, said the job of a goalkeeper at United was the hardest and Onana, like all other United players, has not performed to the best of his ability this term.
“It’s an emotional rollercoaster [being a goalkeeper for United],” he told BBC. “That’s what I think looking from the outside now but from last year’s experience as well.”
“Then you need results as well. Coaches, players need results. You need consistency from the team. I already knew Andre from Ajax and he’s a good goalkeeper. He showed that at Inter as well.”
But he backed the 29-year-old to come good. The Dutchman claimed that the former Ajax star had shown his mental fortitude to come back from low points earlier in his career as well and he is confident that shot-stopper can do the same now.
Backed Onana to come good
“We cannot forget the impact Man Utd has on everyone. That criticism is there, excellence is expected and players have to deal with that. The other part is that there will always be comparisons.
“He is under pressure and scrutiny but he has overcome many challenges in his career before. At the start of last season, everyone was saying he was United’s best and most consistent player so it can change quickly.”
The Peoples Person has relayed that given Amorim’s need to strengthen up top, there might not be too much budget left over for goalkeeping reinforcements.
Clearly, Reiss Nelson’s goal was all a bit much for me. Surfing on a wave of excitement, I extolled the virtues of his winning goal against Bournemouth that kept our title challenge alive.
And then… nothing. I don’t know why. But I stopped blogging again, thereby missing recording the agony of falling short (along with the glee at coming second and getting back into the Champions League).
And then I missed it all again, swerving the quill for the entirety of this season, during which we came second again but only by several points, and were better in almost all discernible ways. Almost.
But enough about me, what about poor old Reiss Nelson? His cameo may well have sealed his place in the Arsenal hall of fame, but at the time you’d have been forgiven for thinking that it may have been a kick-start for his Arsenal career.
And then what? He played just 257 minutes of league football this season, starting just once, and had one shot on goal. His sole goal came in the League Cup.
His rocket that day in March 2023 turned out to be his high-water mark for the club – I think we can say that now, barring some unlikely change of fortune. I suppose it’s not a bad way to be remembered, but his career has hit the buffers and at 24 years old, he desperately needs regular football. It seems almost impossible to see him here next year (and it would be a waste of his talent too).
As we sit back and enjoy the glow of a season that, as a fan, was about as enjoyable as it can get, we see many winners, from this season’s new boys Declan Rice, David Raya and Kai Havertz, to the rock solid partnership of Gabriel and Saliba, and beyond to White, Saka, Odegaard and Trossard.
Reiss Nelson, sadly, was not among them, and that is the brutal reality of competing at the highest level.
SSC Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has explained why former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has been such a success in Serie A this season.
The Scotland international left Old Trafford last summer and joined the Italian side for £25.7 million.
McTominay immediately hit the ground running in Italy and has not looked back once, helping his side up to first place in the Serie A table.
He has scored an incredible 11 league goals in 30 games this season. Only seven players have found the net more often in Italy and Romelu Lukaku is the one Napoli player to have scored more than him with 12 strikes.
The Scot underlined his importance to the team once again with a well taken brace against Torino at the weekend which put his side three points clear of Inter Milan entering the final month of the season.
Commenting on the transfer, Napoli’s sporting director claimed that everyone was already aware of the talent of a player like McTominay whilst he was at United.
TUTTOmercatoWEB quote Manna as saying, “there is too much work in daily life, that’s why it is difficult to watch so many footballers.”
Nonetheless, this was not necessary for this transfer as he claimed, “someone like McTominay does not need to be discovered, we knew he was an important footballer.”
He also hinted that the player was being used incorrectly at Old Trafford and that Napoli have spotted something that United could not see.
Commenting on what can explain McTominay’s rise to prominence he asserted, “he just had to be put at the centre of a specific project.”
Manna claimed that Napoli will continue to look to the Premier League as a source of recruitment in the future as he claimed it is “the best league in the world, with the best players in the world. The level is high, intensity, tactics, technique. There are many components that can have an impact in Italy.”
This is interesting, as Napoli have been heavily linked to United attacker Alejandro Garnacho who is likely to leave this summer.
McTominay will next be in action when his Napoli side travel to Patrick Dorgu’s former club Lecce on Saturday afternoon.
The debate between Mohamed Salah vs Cristiano Ronaldo Premier League Stats has often been fueled by passion, nostalgia, and loyalty. This article, however, sets aside the overall career legacies of these two stars and focuses solely on their Premier League contributions. Using verified statistics from their stints in England—Ronaldo’s time at Manchester United and Salah’s tenure at Liverpool—we present a logical and numbers-based comparison that lets the data speak for itself.
The Metrics & Limits
To keep the analysis fair and focused, we are comparing only the Premier League records of both players. By excluding data from LaLiga, Serie A, or other competitions, we remove the influence of different playing styles, opposition levels, and tactical systems across leagues. This approach allows us to concentrate on what each player has achieved in one of the world’s most competitive and physically demanding leagues.
Our analysis revolves around several key metrics: the number of appearances, goals scored, assists provided, total minutes played, goals per game, minutes per goal, and overall goal involvement per 90 minutes. One metric that often sparks debate is “big chances created” — an indicator of a player’s creative contribution by generating high-quality goal-scoring opportunities. For context, official data shows that while Cristiano Ronaldo created 7 big chances during his Manchester United era, Mohamed Salah has created a staggering 129 big chances for Liverpool in the Premier League.
Salah vs Ronaldo Premier League Stats Analysis
When we look at the raw numbers, the differences become immediately apparent. Cristiano Ronaldo made 236 Premier League appearances for Manchester United, accumulating 17,533 minutes on the pitch. During that period, he scored 103 goals and registered 37 assists, averaging roughly 0.44 goals per game. In comparison, Mohamed Salah’s record at Liverpool includes 292 appearances and 23,323 minutes played. Salah’s numbers shine further with 184 goals and 86 assists, equating to an average of 0.63 goals per game. This means that Salah finds the net more frequently and also contributes more to his team’s overall attacking output.
A useful way to visualize these differences is by considering the number of minutes each player requires to score a goal. Ronaldo averaged about one goal every 170 minutes, while Salah’s efficiency stands at approximately one goal every 127 minutes. When combined with their assist records, Salah’s overall goal involvement per 90 minutes is significantly higher than Ronaldo’s in the Premier League. This stark contrast forms the backbone of our analysis.
To summarize these comparisons, consider the following table:
Metric
Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Appearances
236
292
Minutes Played
17,533
23,323
Goals Scored
103
184
Assists
37
86
Goals per Game
0.44
0.63
Minutes per Goal
~170
~127
Big Chances Created
7
129
These numbers do more than simply display raw statistics; they tell a story of differing roles and contributions in the Premier League. While Ronaldo was known for his direct, clinical finishing at Manchester United, Salah’s game at Liverpool has been defined not only by his prolific scoring but also by his creative prowess. Salah’s high number of big chances created illustrates his integral role in building attacks and creating opportunities for his teammates—a dimension that Ronaldo’s Premier League numbers do not capture nearly as well.
Critical Evaluation – Questions Asked
This analysis naturally raises several thought-provoking questions. If some argue that Ronaldo’s overall career achievements are unparalleled, how do they address the fact that, when compared solely on Premier League records, Salah’s numbers suggest a higher scoring frequency and more creative output? Is it fair to compare a player’s global legacy with league-specific performance, or should we recognize that the Premier League represents a unique environment that highlights different strengths?
Another important consideration is the context in which these numbers were generated. The roles played by each star were shaped by the tactical systems at their respective clubs. Manchester United’s style during Ronaldo’s tenure might have limited his opportunity to create big chances, whereas Liverpool’s attacking philosophy has allowed Salah to flourish both as a scorer and a creator. Thus, one might ask: to what extent does a player’s environment influence these metrics? And if a player’s role is tailored to maximize their strengths, does that not deserve recognition in a fair comparison?
Lastly, these statistics prompt us to ponder the relationship between volume and impact. While Ronaldo’s lower big chance creation figure might seem underwhelming compared to Salah’s, his overall record—including pivotal goals in high-pressure situations—remains impressive. Yet, when evaluating pure Premier League performance, Salah’s numbers provide a compelling case for his remarkable influence on the game.
Logic Over Emotion
One of the common arguments from Ronaldo fans is that his overall career accomplishments and his ability to change the outcome of a match in critical moments should overshadow the raw numbers. However, by narrowing our lens to Premier League stats, the debate shifts. In this context, the data suggests that Salah has not only been more efficient in scoring but also more consistent in his creative contributions.
For instance, consider the discrepancy in big chances created: while Ronaldo’s 7 big chances may be viewed as a byproduct of his finishing-focused role, Salah’s 129 big chances underscore his dual-threat capability. The numbers force us to ask, how can one reconcile a player who excels in finishing with another who consistently builds attacking opportunities? And if we consider minutes per goal and overall involvement, Salah’s higher figures challenge any claim that Ronaldo’s record at Manchester United was the gold standard in the Premier League.
Moreover, the context of their appearances must be considered. Salah’s role at Liverpool involves more touches and creative freedom in a system designed to maximize his output, while Ronaldo’s contribution, although significant, was more limited in a different tactical setup. Does this mean one player is inherently better, or that their contributions are uniquely suited to their teams? The numbers suggest that, at least in the Premier League, Salah’s overall impact on his team’s attacking play has been more substantial.
Conclusion
Ultimately, this comparison of Salah vs Ronaldo Premier League Stats invites readers to reflect on what truly defines excellence in one of the world’s toughest leagues. The figures reveal that Mohamed Salah, with his higher goals per game, superior scoring efficiency, and outstanding creative contributions—particularly the big chances created—has left an indelible mark on the Premier League. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s achievements at Manchester United remain impressive in their own right but, when viewed through the narrow lens of league-specific statistics, present a very different narrative.
By asking the right questions—about context, role, and the nature of impact—this analysis encourages a balanced discussion that goes beyond overall career accolades. In the end, the numbers provide a logical framework for comparison that challenges us to appreciate the unique contributions of both players while recognizing that, in the Premier League, Mohamed Salah’s record stands out as exceptionally prolific and creatively influential.
The debate may never be conclusively resolved, but by focusing solely on Premier League data, we offer a fresh perspective on two of football’s modern icons. Whether you lean toward Ronaldo’s legendary status or appreciate Salah’s record-breaking output, the truth remains that both have shaped the league in remarkable ways—each in their own distinct manner.
