Matthijs de Ligt (21) is called to be one of the great center-backs of the next decade. After highlighting in a Ajax to remember with De Jong, Van de Beek or Ziyech bordering on reaching the 2019 Champions final after eliminating Real Madrid and Juventus, that same summer was the Vecchia Signora who got ahead of half Europe and took over their services.
In his first year there were some doubts about his adaptation, taking into account that his role was to begin to replace a legendary defense like the one formed by Bonucci and Chiellini. But he ended up settling in the post and this season has played everything Except for the games that he missed due to a shoulder injury and the coronavirus.
At a key moment of the season with the knockout stages at stake, Juve lost 2-1 in Porto, and with the obligation to add in Serie A to get closer to Inter, the Dutchman has spoken into the microphones of Sky Sports. One of the topics covered was his beginnings in the Ajax quarry where he was midfielderHence his great touch on the ball, confessing that he had two great idols: his current coach and a Barça player. “When I played for Ajax, before I was 14 I played as a midfielder and I had two great examples, Andrea Pirlo and Sergio Busquets. I watched his videos a lot (Busquets), I really liked him as a player and he was a role model for me“.
The central defender also had words for his current teammates from whom he says he has learned a lot. “Bonucci he is very strong and very good with the ball, has a great game vision. He can play long and also short passes. It is an aspect of which I have to learn a lot. Chiellini defends in the area in an incredible way, I have never seen anyone do it like this. I tell him it looks like he has a magnet in his head, it is always in the correct position. “
Regarding his physical condition, which forced him to miss several games at the beginning of the season, he stated that he is well and feels faster and stronger. “I have learned a lot tactically. At Ajax we defended man to man and in Serie A we do it more in the area. Little by little I am getting to know the players and it is easier for me to adapt. “
This season may be the first in the last ten years that a team has snatched the Serie A throne from Juventus. The bianconeri team got off to a false start and He is eight points behind Inter Milan, yes, with one game less. “This year is more difficult for everyone. We are strong but so are Inter, Atalanta, Lazio, Roma or Milan. There are many teams in few points. Juve always starts as favorites but this year there is a lot of competition and we lost points at the start against smaller teams“De Ligt responded, further justifying that it was partly due to the fact that they had to get used to Pirlo's football.
“If you look at Liverpool and Madrid they are also having these kinds of problems. It happens to all strong teams. You can't always do it right, but we want to do the best we can, “concluded the Dutchman.