Julian Nagelsmann has certified Matthijs de Ligt, the new head of defense at FC Bayern, a “very, very good” development in the first weeks of the season.
“I think he plays extremely stable, very mature,” said the coach of the German record champions before the home game in the Bundesliga against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday afternoon. “He has an inquisitive character and wants to improve,” Nagelsmann said of the young Dutchman.
The 23-year-old de Ligt switched from Juventus Turin to Munich in the summer for a fee of 67 million euros. The national player initially had to catch up physically and tactically.
For Nagelsmann, a central defender at FC Bayern has a “main role” as a “player opener”, as the coach himself explained. It’s not just about defending. “You don’t have much rest as a central defender, so the intensity in this position is certainly higher than in some others,” said the coach.
But De Ligt is now physically in the best shape. Nagelsmann also praised the uncompromising nature of his defender, who, if necessary, “shoots the ball into the stands”. Captain and national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is happy about the new frontman in the Munich defense. “He’s not only active verbally, but also through body language. He always communicates. It’s looking very good at the moment,” said Neuer (36) after the 2-0 win at Inter Milan in the middle of the week in the Champions League lights