Defender Matthijs de Ligt is expected to sign his contract with FC Bayern Munich on Monday. The new boss, who is already very experienced despite being only 22, also fits into coach Julian Nagelsmann’s plans.
Even those who don’t play football on a regular basis could easily see that FC Bayern’s defense was one of the record champions’ biggest problems last year. Far too easy goals conceded because the assignment was often wrong. And mainly because since David Alaba left Real Madrid, there has been a lack of a real head of defense.
Ajax school and a lot of experience for a young age
So now it seems to have been found. The Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt, who previously played for Juventus Turin, is said to cost 70 million euros and signs according to media reports in Munich for five years. Despite his youth, he is already very experienced. He made his debut for the Dutch national team at the age of 17 and has played 38 times for Oranje since then.
The 1.89m tall central defender can play left or right and originally hails from the Ajax Amsterdam school, which stands for great education. The FCB has yes this summer already Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui brought from Amsterdam.
This closes one of the biggest construction sites at Bayern, because there were always major problems in central defense in particular, which would certainly have worsened if Niklas Süle left for Dortmund next year.
More flexibility with the new defense chief
Apparently, those responsible at Bayern did not trust anyone in the current squad to take on the role of defense chief on a permanent basis. Dayot Upamecano, who came from Leipzig a year ago, was too prone to make mistakes in his first year, 80 million man Lucas Hernández, once dubbed the “best defender in the world” by the club bosses, could not get over his importance for the team either demonstrate a longer period of time.
Finally, world champion Benjamin Pavard can play in central defence, but has mostly been assigned the role on the right in the back four.
0: 5 defeats like against Gladbach should no longer exist
With de Ligt, Nagelsmann now has more tactical options and can play back four and three. A 3-5-2 formation is also conceivable, in which after Robert Lewandowski’s departure there will no longer be a real “nine” attacking – but instead, for example, two nimble strikers in Sadio Mané and Serge Gnabry.
De Ligt would then be the head of the chain of defense. In addition, the coach hopes that de Ligt will keep the store together at the back when things don’t go well. Defeats like the 0:5 in the 2nd DFB Cup main round at Borussia Mönchengladbach shouldn’t happen again at Bayern in the new season.
“Here is Bavaria”: The BR24 newsletter informs you about the most important things of the day at a glance, Monday to Friday after work – compact and directly in your private mailbox. Sign up here!
Source: BR24Sport 07/18/2022 – 08:54 a.m
