Matthijs de Ligt played a pivotal role in Manchester United's 3-0 victory over Southampton, scoring the opening goal and earning the Man of the Match award. The win marked a strong response from United following their recent heavy loss to Liverpool, with De Ligt emphasizing the importance of blocking out external criticism. Andre Onana's crucial penalty save early in the match helped shift momentum in United's favor, leading to additional goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. De Ligt, who faced challenges during the international break with the Netherlands, expressed satisfaction with his performance and the team's collective effort. Manager Erik ten Hag acknowledged the pressure on his players, highlighting the need to improve consistency moving forward. The victory lifts United to eighth place in the Premier League, relieving some pressure on Ten Hag's position.