Louis van Gaal does not think he is contradicting himself by placing Matthijs de Ligt in the center of the defense against Montenegro. The national coach of the Dutch said at the press conference eight days ago that De Ligt had shown that he could not play on the left side of the defense, but now puts the Juventus defender on that side.
“I said that in a context of five defenders,” Van Gaal explained to the NOS. “You always have to pay attention with Van Gaal. If you play with three defenders, he plays a lot more on the left than when you play with two defenders in the center. He has played this a lot with Ajax and he has also played there with Juventus I have faith in him and I also said in my press conference that I am not looking to the past. We have to look to the present.”
De Ligt comes into the team for Virgil van Dijk, who gets rest. “Of course that is in consultation,” says Van Gaal. “When I enter, I already ask what is possible, because I also know what he has been through and I can count on my fingers that it will probably be difficult. He is willing to fill in, that also says something.”
Tyrell Malacia replaces Daley Blind in left back position. “No, that was not difficult,” says Van Gaal about that choice. “I think players should play to their strength. And I talk to players where they prefer to play. Then I’m going to think something about that. I think he said that. No, I’ve asked a few times how he felt. there was always a smile. That could also be a wall, but I don’t believe in that. I believe he will start the game well prepared.”
According to Van Gaal, the way the backs play has ‘definitely been a point of attention’. “They have to play like a steering wheel. If Denzel Dumfries goes, Malacia should stay, and vice versa. No, I didn’t think so. The media then say: what a chance. Well, they’ve had three chances. While we have on the halfway line played, just attacked. The difficulty was high, but for them it was easy.”