"This can't happen" - Ronald Koeman slams Manchester United star for error in Bosnia and Herzegovina win
The Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has criticized Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt after his error against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Oranje beat the Zmajevi 5-2 in their UEFA Nations League clash at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven on Saturday, September 7.
It was a dominant display from the Dutch side but they did concede two goals. Ermedin Demirovic scored in the 27th minute after finding space between De Ligt and Virgil van Dijk. Esmir Bajraktarevic then attempted a cross from the right wing towards Edin Dzeko. De Ligt could have cleared the ball but he let it go hoping that goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen would claim it. It didn't happen and Dzeko scored.
After the game, manager Ronald Koeman was asked if the Manchester United defender's errors are a cause for concern. He said (via @TheEuropeanLad on X):
"Matthijs de Ligt himself knows that he did wrong. This can't happen."
De Ligt has made 46 appearances for the Netherlands so far and also contributed two goals and three assists.
Oranje, meanwhile, showed their brilliance on the day aside from the two conceded goals. Joshua Zirkzee opened the scoring in the 13th minute before Demirovic made it 1-1. Tijjani Reijnders restored the Netherlands' lead in the first-half stoppage time and Cody Gakpo added another in the 56th minute.
Dzeko made it 3-2 in the 73rd minute before Wout Weghorst (88') and Xavi Simons (90+2') completed a dominant 5-2 win. They will next face Germany on Tuesday, September 10.
Matthijs de Ligt opens up on Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag's demands
Manchester United signed Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich for a reported fee of €50 million earlier this summer. He's featured in all three of their Premier League games so far, starting one of them.
De Ligt is reunited with manager Erik ten Hag, under whom he made 70 appearances at Ajax. After joining Manchester United, the defender said about the Dutch manager:
"He's really demanding, I think, he demands every day every moment of the training session. He demands a lot, not only on the training pitch but also outside, how you behave, how you take care of your body, how you rest, how you sleep.
"He's really into discipline. And that suits really well with the way I see being a professional footballer."
De Ligt broke on to the scene during his time at Ajax under Ten Hag, which saw him join Juventus for €85 million in 2019. They will now hope to replicate their excellent partnership at Manchester United.