Matthijs de Ligt Subbed at Half-Time After Struggles in Netherlands Draw
Manchester United’s recent summer signing, Matthijs de Ligt, endured a tough night during the Netherlands’ 2-2 UEFA Nations League draw against Germany on Tuesday.
De Ligt, who arrived at Old Trafford from Bayern Munich this summer, was substituted at half-time after a shaky first-half performance that saw the Dutch defense exposed.
The Netherlands found themselves trailing 2-0 at the break, with Ronald Koeman deciding to take action by replacing De Ligt with Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke.
The 24-year-old Van Hecke instantly brought stability to the backline, while Denzel Dumfries scored a crucial equalizer early in the second half. From there, the Netherlands managed to prevent further damage and secure a draw.
For De Ligt, it’s a moment of disappointment as he continues to settle into his new role at Manchester United. Virgil van Dijk, his defensive partner and captain, addressed the situation post-match, defending his teammate.
“It’s part of football,” Van Dijk said.
“You have to learn from these moments. At this level, mistakes get punished.”
The pressure is mounting on De Ligt, who has faced criticism for his performances both at club and international levels recently.
With Manchester United struggling in the Premier League and sitting 14th after a rough start, De Ligt will hope to bounce back quickly.
His next test comes against Southampton, offering a fresh opportunity to prove his worth to both Erik ten Hag and Dutch fans alike.
