Over the past two seasons, Manchester United have failed to deliver on their promise in the Premier League, as evidenced by an embarrassing 15th place finish last time out.
From poor recruitment to management errors, the reasons why the Red Devils have found themselves in such a position in recent times have been countless.
However, after spending a year in charge at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim will continue to believe that he is the man to return the club to its former glory in the seasons to come.
There have been glimpses of quality in the opening months of the 2025/26 campaign, but the 40-year-old desperately needs to maintain such success consistently.
Many of his first team players have certainly gone under the radar in recent weeks, and many of them haven’t really gotten the credit they deserve for their performances in England’s top flight.
Man Utd’s most underrated players in 2025/26 so far
Amorim’s famous 3-4-2-1 system has allowed many United players to revive their careers at the Red Devils, but none more so than winger Amad Diallo.
The Ivorian was often an impact player under the last management team, but he has featured in all but one league outing under Amorim so far this campaign.
He has already registered three goals and assists combined, with his only goal coming in the 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest – but it was certainly a strike to remember.
Underlying stats such as three big chances created and 1.3 successful dribbles per 90 – both the highest on the team – highlight his incredible ability in transition for the Red Devils.
He is not the only first-team member who has failed to receive enough praise, with Brazilian midfielder Casemiro resurrecting his career at Old Trafford in recent months.
Many would have expected the 33-year-old to leave last summer, but he has become a regular again and matched Amad for total appearances this season.
He has already scored four goals – the third most on the team – often appearing with the goods when needed in the final third of the pitch.
However, he was just as impressive defensively, making 2.9 tackles and winning 6.5 duels per 90 – giving Amorim the disruptive force they needed at the heart of the team.
The United star who shows shades of McTominay
Casemiro will undoubtedly have benefited from the departure of Scott McTominay last summer, the Scot’s transfer to Naples once again freeing him up for a starting role.
The 28-year-old spent a large part of his professional career at United, allowing him to amass a total of over 250 senior appearances for his boyhood club.
He was at the heart of many memorable moments during his first-team spell at the Theater of Dreams, with the highlight undoubtedly being his long-range goal in the Manchester Derby.
However, despite such impressive performances, he often did not get the credit he deserved from supporters, which undoubtedly contributed to his move to Italy.
Over the last 18 months in Serie A, McTominay has scored 14 goals and six assists, earning him a Ballon d’Or nomination – an unthinkable feat given his inconsistency at United.
However, the club currently have another hugely underrated player on their books, with centre-back Matthijs de Ligt finally starting to show why the hierarchy paid £43million for his 2024 signing.
The Dutchman was seen as the solution to the club’s defensive problems, but he endured a difficult debut campaign, which was undoubtedly a culture shock for the 26-year-old.
The same cannot be said in 2025/26, with the defender undoubtedly one of the club’s shining lights over the past couple of months in the Premier League.
He has featured in every minute of the Red Devils’ championship campaign so far, allowing him to produce some simply mind-boggling numbers in the process.
De Ligt, nicknamed ‘warrior’ by Dev Bajwa, made 1.6 tackles and won 5.6 duels per 90 – supporting Casemiro and providing another line of solidarity.
He’s also won 63% of his dogfights to date, at an average of 3.3 per 90 – giving Amorim that commanding presence he’s been craving since he took the reins.
|
Matthijs de Ligt Stats – PL (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics (by 90) |
Scoring |
|
Games played |
12 |
|
Goals scored |
1 |
|
Success accuracy |
88% |
|
Interceptions made |
1.3 |
|
Jumps won |
3.3 |
|
Aerial success rate |
63% |
|
Tackles won |
1.6 |
|
Duels won |
5.6 |
|
Stats via FotMob |
|
Other figures, such as 88% successful passes and 1.3 interceptions made per 90, further highlight his overall quality, leading Bajwa to even claim that he is the club’s “most underrated player”.
Many of the numbers mentioned above are similar to those of McTominay, who has also dominated aerially in Serie A this season, as evidenced by his tally of four headed goals already this season.
Both also possess the leadership qualities needed to lead a team forward, with both players no doubt keen to achieve further success at their various clubs in 2025/26.
There is no denying that Old Trafford’s defensive unit has improved significantly compared to last season, with De Ligt’s upturn in form certainly contributing to their success.
However, he is yet to receive as much praise as he deserves for his efforts, with the Dutchman likely to play a key role in any success under Amorim come the end of the campaign.
Anderson upgrade: INEOS plans £105m bid to sign ‘world-class’ CM for Man Utd
Manchester United appear to have another midfielder on their radar in place of Elliot Anderson.
