National coach Louis van Gaal sees in Matthijs de Ligt the backup of Nathan Aké in the Dutch national team during the World Cup in Qatar.
In Van Gaal’s 5-3-2 system, Aké is the first choice as a left central defender. In a interview with the NOS after the presentation of his World Cup selection, Van Gaal says that not Daley Blind or Tyrell Malacia, but the right-footed De Ligt in that position is the second choice.
,,In my view, I think that a left leg should play there. Bruno Martins Indi was hired for that. But yes, he is injured,” said Van Gaal. “That’s why I had to look further. Before that I followed Sven Botman, Pascal Struijk and Micky van de Ven. I then have to compare that with the fourth choice and that is Matthijs de Ligt. He can play there too. He has played there before for Bayern Munich, but also for Juventus. Then I prefer Matthijs de Ligt.”
Daley Blind as wingback
Daley Blind ended up on the bench at Ajax as a left back, but Van Gaal sees the 32-year-old Amsterdammer in his system as an important player. ,,He doesn’t play left back for me, not in midfield and not as a left central defender, but as a wingback. He is just the tactical variant. You may remember the goal where Blind gave the assist and the other wingback Denzel Dumfries shot the ball in. That’s how we play offensively.”