I protected De Ligt by taking him off - Koeman

Netherlands leader Ronald Koeman said he substituted Manchester United centre-back Matthijs de Ligt during their 2-2 tie pinch Germany connected Tuesday nighttime to "protect" him.

De Ligt, 25, was replaced astatine half-time successful nan Uefa Nations League conflict successful Amsterdam by Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke aft nan defender had a manus successful some of Germany's first-half goals.

A misplaced walk successful nan first half led to Deniz Undav equalising earlier his grounded clearance led to Joshua Kimmich giving Germany nan lead, conscionable 3 days aft De Ligt made mistakes successful nan Dutch's 5-2 triumph complete Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Of people I would alternatively person kept [Matthijs de Ligt] connected nan pitch," Koeman told Dutch broadcaster NOS.

“It conscionable looks for illustration he is now successful a play wherever each his mistakes are being punished.

"I gave him a caller chance coming but yet I protected him by taking him off."

Koeman said publically connected De Ligt's capacity successful their triumph connected Saturday, wherever he was incapable to people 38-year-old striker Edin Dzeko arsenic he scored Bosnia's 2nd extremity successful Amsterdam.

"We person discussed it," Koeman said successful his property convention connected Monday earlier nan tie against Germany.

"He did not get his footwork right. It was a bad individual infinitesimal for a defender. You person to study from that, it is clear that these kinds of moments request to beryllium improved.

"But we should not beryllium melodramatic astir it and put excessively overmuch accent connected it."

De Ligt, who has 45 world caps, only joined United past month from Bayern Munich successful a woody worthy complete £42m (including add-ons).

Competing pinch De Ligt successful Koeman's squad for minutes are chap Premier League defenders Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Micky van der Ven, Jurrien Timber, Van Hecke and Sven Botman, who is presently injured.

During nan 2-2 draw, Manchester City's Ake was stretchered disconnected successful nan first half pinch what appeared to beryllium a hamstring injury.