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Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has revealed that he substituted Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt at half-time during their 2-2 draw with Germany in the UEFA Nations League to “protect” the player. The 25-year-old centre-back had a difficult first half, playing a role in both of Germany’s goals.
De Ligt’s misplaced pass led to Deniz Undav’s equaliser, and his failed clearance allowed Joshua Kimmich to give Germany the lead. This followed another shaky performance just days earlier in the Netherlands’ 5-2 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, where De Ligt struggled to mark veteran striker Edin Dzeko.
“Of course, I would rather have kept [De Ligt] on the pitch,” Koeman told Dutch broadcaster NOS. “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.”
Koeman had publicly discussed De Ligt’s recent struggles before the match against Germany, acknowledging the defender’s errors in the game against Bosnia but urging for patience.
De Ligt joined Manchester United from Bayern Munich last month in a deal worth over £42m, and his early performances for both club and country have drawn scrutiny. With competition in the Netherlands squad from the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, and Jurrien Timber, De Ligt’s place in the starting lineup remains under pressure.
