{"id":1104543,"date":"2019-09-03T18:40:55","date_gmt":"2019-09-03T17:40:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1104543"},"modified":"2019-09-03T18:40:55","modified_gmt":"2019-09-03T17:40:55","slug":"matthijs-de-ligt-juventus-defence-ronald-koeman-sarri-advice","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/matthijs-de-ligt-juventus-defence-ronald-koeman-sarri-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"Where does Matthijs de Ligt fit into Juventus’ defence? Koeman gives Sarri some advice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has quelled the overreaction following Matthijs de Ligt’s less than stellar Juventus debut.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 20-year-old central defender made his first competitive appearance for the Bianconeri in their entertaining 4-3 win over Serie A rivals Napoli on Saturday, replacing Giorgio Chiellini who has sustained a serious knee injury.<\/p>\n

De Ligt’s numbers v Napoli: Five key things to know\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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  • 54 touches.<\/li>\n
  • 96% passing accuracy.<\/li>\n
  • 5 clearances (most).<\/li>\n
  • 1 tackle attempted.<\/li>\n
  • 50% aerial duels won.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7354781-emery-must-resist-his-crystal-palace-tribute-act-to-punish-unsettled-spurs<\/p>\n

    However, the former Ajax captain played a part in the Parthenopeans\u00a0overturning a three goal deficit, most notably when Hirving Lozano registered Napoli’s second of the game, which lead to heavy criticism.<\/p>\n

    De Ligt, who sat out of Juve’s opener at Parma – which they won 1-0 courtesy of Chiellini – was among Europe’s most wanted footballers in the summer. The current Golden Boy recipient supposedly turned down advances from Barcelona and Man Utd for the undisputed Italian champions.<\/p>\n

    One reason De Ligt has previously cited for joining the Old Lady is due to their incredible history of developing centre-backs, and how much he could learn from the aforementioned Chiellini, as well as Leonardo Bonucci, who he partnered against Napoli.<\/p>\n

    And, as far as his national team boss Koeman is concerned, the fallout from De Ligt’s performance has been overblown as he shouldn’t have been fielded where Maurizio Sarri positioned him.<\/p>\n