Matthijs de Ligt: Ronald Koeman hooked Manchester United defender for his protection in Netherlands' draw with Germany
Matthijs de Ligt had an international break to forget on duty with the Netherlands. The Manchester United defender was partly responsible for three goals the Dutch conceded against Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina. His international manager Ronald Koeman said he did not want to substitute the 25-year-old, but hooked him at half-time to protect the under-fire former Bayern Munich defender.
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Ronald Koeman said he was unwilling to take off Matthijs de Ligt at half-time against Germany but did so to protect the Manchester United defender.
De Ligt was partially culpable for both German goals in the 2-2 draw, needlessly giving away the ball for Deniz Undav’s equaliser and failing to clear for Joshua Kimmich’s first-half strike.
United’s summer signing from Bayern Munich could not prevent Edin Dzeko scoring Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second in the Netherlands’ 5-2 win on Saturday.
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, the Dutch manager said that De Ligt was on a run of form “where all his mistakes are being punished”.
“Of course I would rather have kept [De Ligt] on the pitch,” said Koeman.
“It just looks like he is now in a period where all his mistakes are being punished.
"I gave him a new chance today, but eventually I protected him by taking him off."
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Matthijs de Ligt and Edin Dzeko Getty Images
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Having shipped three goals against Liverpool on his first start for his new club, De Ligt has now conceded seven in his last three appearances heading into United’s trip to Southampton this Saturday, broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Fellow Dutch centre-half Virgil van Dijk also weighed in on De Ligt’s first high-profile error against Germany, saying that the 25-year-old must “learn” from it.
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“This is football. You have to learn from this," Van Dijk told Viaplay International. “It was one moment but at the highest level you will get punished for it.”
After De Ligt let 38-year-old Fenerbahce forward Dzeko ghost into the box for Bosnia’s second on Saturday, Koeman revealed he spoke to the defender and praised his ability on the ball.
"We have discussed it," Koeman said in his pre-match press conference on Monday before the Nations League clash against Hungary.
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"He did not get his footwork right. It was a bad individual moment for a defender. You have to learn from that, it is clear that these kinds of moments need to be improved.
"But we should not be dramatic about it and put too much emphasis on it.
“He also had very good moments on the ball. That resulted in another big chance, when he played directly forward once. But it is clear that he also has to improve.”
De Ligt himself was scathing in his assessment of his own performance in the win at the weekend, admitting that he knew he should have cleared the danger.
“I think you know how I feel,” said De Ligt post-match. “We won … but then comes the individual part. I should have done better at their second goal, and I know that.
“I don’t really know what happened. I should have cleared the ball but I kept having doubts during the play.
“If this game is a missed opportunity for me? I don’t know, I just try to do my best.”
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