Virgil van Dijk says Netherlands centre-back partner Matthijs de Ligt will learn from his mistake after being replaced at half time during the Netherlands’ Nations League draw against Germany.
De Ligt conceded possession on the edge of his own area in the build up to Deniz Undav’s equaliser for Germany in the 38th minute. His in-field pass was intercepted by Jamal Musiala and after Florian Wirtz’s effort was saved by Bart Verbruggen, Undav side-footed home the rebound.
The 25-year-old did not return for the second half, with Jan Paul van Hecke brought on as his replacement.
“This is football. You have to learn from this,” Van Dijk told Viaplay International. “It was one moment but at the highest level you will get punished for it.”
Tuesday’s match finished 2-2 after first-half goals from Undav and Joshua Kimmich overturned Tijjani Reijnders’ opener. Denzel Dumfries levelled the scores in the second half.
It was the second successive Netherlands match that De Ligt came in for criticism for his defensive performance.
During Saturday’s 5-2 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, he opted not to clear a cross from the right flank after a misunderstanding with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen which allowed Edin Dzeko to run off his shoulder and make it 3-2.
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman said on Tuesday: “It just looks like he is now in a period where all his mistakes are being punished.”
He added: “I protected him by taking him off.”
The centre-back, capped 47 times at international level, joined Manchester United from Bayern Munich this summer for a fee of €45million (£38.5m, $49.5m), plus €5m (£4.3m, $5.5m) in add-ons.
United return to action on Saturday when they play Southampton.
GO DEEPER
How De Ligt deal was sealed by Ten Hag texts, a perfect profile and lifelong love
(Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)
