FC Bayern: de Ligt on his bench press role – 'part of the plan'
Matthijs de Ligt was only on the bench at the beginning of all previous Bayern competitive games. Image: dpa / Sven HoppeAfter the brilliant start to the season with two victories against RB Leipzig (5:3) and Eintracht Frankfurt (6:1) Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann liked one thing above all about the 2:0 win against VfL Wolfsburg – the result of which was rather unspectacular: the concentrated defensive performance of his team.
'It's a good step that we're keeping a clean sheet,' said Nagelsmann after the game. The Bayern defense of Alphonso Davies, Lucas Hernandez, Dayot Upamecano and Benjamin Pavard had the Wolfsburg offensive well under control for long stretches of the game.
The highlights of Bayern's home win against Wolfsburg. Video: YouTube/FC Bayern Matchday CenterThe designated defense boss was not even on the field against Wolfsburg. Matthijs de Ligt, who was brought in from Juventus Turin for 67 million euros before the season, was only on the bench for 90 minutes. And against Leipzig and Frankfurt it was only enough for him to make two short appearances.
De Ligt still had a training deficit
But according to Nagelsmann, there is nothing unusual about de Ligt's initial reserve role. He first had to adapt to the intensive training with the Bayern get used to, the coach recently revealed . In the meantime, de Ligt is said to have caught up on the training deficit.
He had recently commented on his bank location. 'Preparation has been tough and I can see that I've made some progress in terms of fitness,' de Ligt said in the Interview with the Dutch newspaper 'De Telegraaf'.
Check out this post on Instagram
De Ligt is relaxed
The fact that he is currently sitting outside is 'part of the plan that we have made,' said the 23-year-old. 'The coaches told me they wanted me to train first so I could bring what a defender does to the pitch Bayern Munich is expected.'
At the latest when the season before the World Cup in November gets into the hot phase, de Ligt doesn't worry about having enough playing time. 'The games are coming at a crazy pace and it's going to be a long season. I just have to get and stay super fit.'
Source: watson.de
