Matthijs de Ligt has yet to find his footing with Manchester United because of the team's overall form, says Andy Cole.
De Ligt joined the Red Devils on a big-money transfer from Bayern Munich in the summer, and he's expected to be a cornerstone of the back line for years to come.
However, the 25-year-old has appeared unsettled at times as United have struggled over the opening stages of the campaign, and Cole believes the wider issues affecting the club are delaying De Ligt's full integration into the side.
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“Talking from my own experience, playing for Manchester United is playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world and expectation levels are so high," Cole told Betfred.
"You’re expected to hit the ground running and if you don’t hit the ground running, then you’re deemed not good enough. It takes more time to adjust than a lot of people think it does.
“In a couple of games he’s looked half-decent and in a couple of games he’s struggled. Sometimes when you’re playing in a team that’s not playing well, you’re going to find that inconsistency.
"He’s played for big clubs such as Ajax, Bayern Munich and Juventus, so he’s got the pedigree, but he, like every other player in that team, is waiting for everything to click and for that form as a collective to shine through. Once his confidence is in tip top condition, then we go from there.”
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