Ruben Amorim ‘Really Concerned’ by Manchester United Injury Scare

De Ligt Setback Leaves Manchester United Manager Fearing Long-Term Fallout

On a weekend when Manchester United were hoping to quietly rotate and focus on their Europa League ambitions, a worrying injury blow to Matthijs de Ligt has left Ruben Amorim “really concerned”, not just about the here and now—but for what it could mean in the longer term.

As De Ligt limped off the pitch after just 35 minutes against Brentford on Sunday, the sense of unease on the United bench was immediate. This wasn’t part of the plan. The Dutch defender had only just returned to action after a frustrating foot problem and was being slowly reintroduced into the squad ahead of a crucial stretch in the season. But his premature exit at the Gtech Community Stadium may now have altered that timeline in ways Ruben Amorim was clearly not expecting.

The Injury: More Than Just Another Setback

Speaking to Sky Sports after United’s narrow 2-1 loss to Brentford, Ruben Amorim cut a figure of clear concern. Not panic—but real, thoughtful concern.

“I don’t know, so I’m really concerned—but not about Thursday,” Ruben Amorim said, referencing the upcoming second leg of United’s Europa League semi-final at Old Trafford. “We took off Luke Shaw at half-time to protect him and have players ready for Thursday, but I’m more concerned whether this [De Ligt’s injury] is a small or big one, and thinking about next season.”

That one sentence sums up the larger issue at play here. For all the pressure of Thursday night football and the challenge of reaching a European final, Ruben Amorim’s real worry lies further down the road.

De Ligt’s injury might not be a crisis for the short term, but it has the potential to become one for the start of the 2025/26 campaign, especially given the fragile state of United’s defensive roster heading into a period of change.

Centre-Back Crisis Looming?

On paper, Manchester United still fielded a competent back line at Brentford, but it didn’t take long to see the cracks appearing. With Lisandro Martínez still sidelined after a devastating ACL injury and unlikely to return before the later stages of next season, the Red Devils are already operating under strained conditions in central defence.

Against Athletic Club in the first leg of the semi-final in Bilbao, Ruben Amorim opted for a back three of Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, and Victor Lindelöf. It worked well enough on the night. But even that arrangement isn’t built to last.

Lindelöf’s contract expires at the end of June and he’s expected to move on. Jonny Evans, the ever-reliable veteran, is also set to leave, closing the book on what’s been a steady—if limited—contribution this season. If De Ligt’s injury turns out to be significant,Ruben  Amorim may be heading into pre-season with just two senior natural centre-backs: Yoro and Maguire, the latter now 32 and whose long-term role is unclear.

De Ligt’s Importance to the Project

Amorim has made no secret of how important he views De Ligt in his long-term vision for the club. Signed from Bayern Munich in what many thought was one of the smartest bits of business United had done in years, the Dutchman was meant to be a foundational piece in Ruben Amorim’s defensive rebuild—a player with elite pedigree, Champions League experience, and years of top-level football ahead of him.

Since his arrival, De Ligt has had his moments, but he’s struggled with niggling injuries and hasn’t quite put together a sustained run of games. Still, his presence on the pitch—when available—makes United a more structured, intelligent unit defensively.

That’s what makes this latest knock particularly deflating. Ruben Amorim’s reaction wasn’t one of frustration about a missed Thursday—it was about the bigger picture.

A Risky Rotation at Brentford

There’s a growing feeling among fans and pundits that Ruben Amorim rolled the dice a bit too heavily against Brentford. While resting players ahead of a massive European semi-final is understandable, the manager’s decision to make wholesale changes appeared to throw the balance of the team off completely.

United were outplayed in large spells and struggled to contain a Brentford side that showed far more urgency. The defeat also came at a cost beyond just De Ligt’s knock.

The club now sits precariously in 15th place in the league table. While relegation remains unlikely, a truly catastrophic finish—17th or worse—is not off the cards if United continue to drop points and focus solely on European success.

Still, Ruben Amorim was unapologetic in his post-match comments: “We as a club, we need to understand in this moment we have a big responsibility. We have to prepare a squad for different competitions.”

That may be true, but it’s hard to ignore the reality that the current squad is not deep enough to truly compete on both fronts without taking some damage along the way.

Defensive Depth—Or Lack Thereof

With Diogo Dalot out injured and Noussair Mazraoui forced to cover at wing-back instead of his preferred right-centre role, Ruben Amorim’s tactical flexibility is being tested. Against Lyon in the quarter-finals, Mazraoui had stepped in as part of a back three, but he’s now being used more as a patch to cover gaps elsewhere.

What once seemed like an enviable amount of depth now appears paper thin. The injury to De Ligt only amplifies that problem and may force United to turn to youth players or emergency transfers this summer.

If there’s a silver lining here, it’s the performance of Leny Yoro, who has matured rapidly in recent months and looks more than capable of becoming a mainstay. But asking a teenager to anchor United’s backline through a turbulent rebuild is a huge burden.

Looking Ahead to the Second Leg

Despite all the uncertainty, United still have everything to play for in the Europa League. The tie against Athletic Club remains finely balanced, and a win at Old Trafford would book them a place in the final.

De Ligt’s absence may not hurt too much on Thursday—Maguire and Yoro are expected to start, and Shaw may also return to the left centre-back slot if needed. But the broader implications of this injury could shape United’s transfer strategy and pre-season plans dramatically.

Amorim knows this. That’s why his post-match tone was so measured. This wasn’t panic—it was the recognition of a structural issue rearing its head once again.

Final Thoughts

Ruben Amorim’s concern over Matthijs de Ligt isn’t just medical—it’s strategic. Manchester United are a club in the midst of reshaping their identity, and De Ligt was meant to be part of the spine around which that rebuild would happen. Now, with question marks over his fitness and the likely departures of key defenders, Ruben Amorim is staring at a defensive crisis that could impact not just Thursday night—but months into the future.

United fans will be hoping the injury is minor, the Europa League campaign continues, and the summer transfer window brings reinforcements. But for now, all eyes are on Ruben Amorim’s next moves—because the margin for error just got thinner.