Matthijs de Ligt has admitted that not being a starter for the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup acted as a wake-up call to him.
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De Ligt left Juventus for Bayern Munich in the summer but was not immediately a starter for the German giants. At the World Cup in the winter, De Ligt only started one game for the Netherlands.
Since then, De Ligt has earned his place in the Bayern Munich side and is getting praised for his performances. Speaking to Münchner Merkur/TZ, De Ligt admitted the World Cup inspired him to improve.
He said, “I had to change something, try something new. It should not happen to someone with my qualities that you are not a starting player at the World Cup.
“I took two weeks of rest so that I could start training again in the last week of my holiday. I also pay more attention to my diet, which makes me feel more explosive and better in my skin than before. That helps me on the field. If you’re fit, you’re a little faster. Both with and without the ball.”
The former Ajax centre-back has started five of Bayern’s last six matches and he will be hoping his form impresses Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman.
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