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Tyrell Malacia reacts to Louis van Gaal trialling him at centre-back.
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Van Gaal reveals why he choose to put Malacia in a new position.
Dutch and Manchester United professional footballer Tyrell Malacia has reacted to Louis van Gaal trialling him as a centre-back in a recent international match.
After Louis van Gaal tried Tyrell Malacia out at centre-back during the international break, the Manchester United defender insisted that his best position is at left-back.
The Netherlands made it to the Nations League finals on Sunday when they beat Belgium 1-0 with Malacia coming off the bench at the half-time interval.
Malacia is accustomed to defending the left side of the defence for Manchester United and his nation, but Van Gaal chose to start the 23-year-old on the left side of a back three against Belgium.
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It had been presumed that Daley Blind – who had been playing at left-back – would shift inside to left centre-back when Malacia replaced Nathan Ake at the break.
Tyrell, who excelled in a new position and stifled Belgium playmaker Kevin de Bruyne in the second half, proved that this wasn’t the case.
Malacia and Van Gaal had a heated conversation on the sidelines during the game, but the Manchester United defender acknowledges that he moved forward “too much” for his position.
Malacia told De Telegraaf,
“I went two or three times too much forward, That is not possible in this position as quickly. But I was corrected by others. I didn’t agree with it at the time, yes. That’s right. After the game, we talked about that moment for a while and then it was over. I’m comfortable with United at the moment. The national coach thinks that I should also be able to play in the centre of the defence. But I feel best on the left.”
After the game, Van Gaal admitted that the plan was to start Malacia at left centre-back to get the Netherlands ready for Bruno Martins Indi’s absence at the upcoming World Cup.
Van Gaal told ESPN NL;
“I put Malacia in the left centre-back role because Martins Indi is not going to make it to the World Cup squad in time due to injury, I have to look at other players who can play there and I wanted to see what Malacia could do, so Ake was substituted. The defensive work he did very well, but the constructive work in the build-up could have been a lot better.”