De Ligt: ‘The Orange players will come with a statement on Saturday’ | Football

sport">That said Matthijs de Ligt at the press conference on Friday afternoon in the run-up to the game with the Latvians. “We are going to do something anyway, and what that is, you will see tomorrow,” said the central defender. “We discussed it a long time ago, even before we got together for this international match.”

‘Everyone must support it’

sport">In the run-up to the meeting with Turkey, it was also about a statement issued by the KNVB, but now the players are also going to make themselves heard. “It is a very difficult issue. Everyone has to get behind it, of course, and then you have to determine a time when you will do it. In the run-up to Turkey, we did not think it was the right time, now we think it is. That decision was taken yesterday. ”

sport">National coach Frank de Boer supported his pupil. “We think now is the time to show what we stand for as players and staff. Let’s hope it comes across well ”, said the trainer.

sport">De Ligt said he had spoken to Virgil van Dijk, his injured partner of Orange, with the players’ council via a zoom meeting. “He seemed fresh in his head,” laughed De Ligt. “But of course you don’t know exactly how he is physically doing. He should not force anything and decide for himself when he is fit again. If he can be there at the European Championship, he will be there. And otherwise there must be other guys on it. ”

Blind, De Vrij or Aké?

sport">De Ligt did not allow himself to be tempted to say with whom he prefers to play together when Van Dijk is absent. “I don’t think I’ve ever played with someone better on the ball than Daley Blind. But Stefan de Vrij is physically stronger than Daley and it is not without reason that he was voted the best defender of Italy. And of course we also have someone like Nathan Aké. But first I have to wait and see if I play myself ”, the defender laughed.

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