You know, sometimes I wonder if these football managers even bother to watch the games, or if they just spin a wheel of fortune every month to pick their squads. Because honestly, the Matthijs de Ligt saga? It’s less a strategic football decision and more a masterclass in managerial flip-flopping. Ronald Koeman, bless his heart, just pulled a classic "I knew it all along" move, and we’re all supposed to nod sagely. Give me a break.
The Koeman Shuffle: A Masterclass in Backtracking
Let’s rewind a second, shall we? Just last month, October, De Ligt was persona non grata. Not even a sniff of the Netherlands squad. Koeman, ever the diplomat, trotted out the old chestnut: "strong competition." Yeah, strong competition for not playing, apparently. Before that, in September, De Ligt got a whopping two minutes of international action. Two minutes! For a guy with over 50 caps, who should be an automatic pick. That’s not a benching; that’s a public shaming, a clear message that you’re not in the plans.
And now? Poof! Like magic, De Ligt is back. What changed? Did he suddenly unlock a secret level of footballing prowess in the last four weeks? Did he undergo some miraculous transformation? Nah, let’s be real. What changed is Manchester United finally remembered how to string a few passes together and started winning. Five games unbeaten, to be exact. And De Ligt, the man Koeman couldn't find space for, has been ever-present, even banging in a crucial 96th-minute equalizer against Tottenham. You can almost hear the collective sigh of relief from the Dutch FA suits, probably sipping lukewarm coffee in a bland conference room somewhere, as they saw United’s results.
Koeman’s explanation? Oh, it’s a beauty. Ronald Koeman explains why Matthijs de Ligt has been recalled into the Netherlands squad after recent axe. He told Sport Nieuws that he "felt I had to select him based on his performance." No kidding, Sherlock. He also cited "more peace and quiet at the club now, and they’re performing better." So, it wasn’t De Ligt’s individual form in September or October that was the problem; it was the club's vibe? Interesting. A manager dropping a player because the team is struggling, only to recall him when the team improves, even when the player was performing all along... it’s a bad look. No, 'bad' doesn't cover it—it's a transparent, self-serving piece of revisionist history.
He then goes on about how he "sat with him sometimes and said he didn’t look confident." And now, suddenly, he does. Funny how confidence seems to appear when your team isn't losing and you're actually playing. It’s almost like players gain confidence from, you know, playing well and winning, rather than being benched or left out entirely. Who'd have thought?
The Unspoken Truth: Performance, Pressure, and PR
This whole episode reeks of a manager reacting to external pressure and the undeniable fact that De Ligt, despite Koeman’s prior snubs, was simply too good to ignore any longer. It’s not about some grand tactical revelation; it’s about Koeman needing to look like he’s in control, like he’s making astute observations, when really he’s just catching up to what everyone else could see. Dropping Stefan de Vrij to make space? "I know what I have with the experienced defender," Koeman says. Translation: "De Vrij is a safe choice, but De Ligt is making me look like an idiot if I keep him out." The door isn't closed for De Vrij, offcourse, but it's certainly been slammed in his face for now.
What does this tell us about the high-stakes world of international football? It tells us that loyalty is a myth, consistency is a luxury, and a manager’s "vision" is often just a fancy word for "whatever is working right now." De Ligt was playing strongly at the end of last season, too, remember? Before an injury cost United the Europa League Final. His absence was felt then. So, his quality hasn't just materialized out of thin air. It’s been there. Koeman just chose to ignore it until the scoreboard started screaming his name.
I gotta ask: Is this what passes for modern leadership? This kind of reactive, almost petulant decision-making disguised as careful consideration? It’s like watching a chef tell you he’s a culinary genius after he finally serves a decent meal because the sous chef did all the work. Then again, maybe I’m the crazy one here. Maybe Koeman genuinely had an epiphany, a sudden flash of insight that Matthijs de Ligt is, in fact, a very good footballer. Or maybe, just maybe, he realized he was about to look like a fool for benching a guy who could become the Netherlands’ main man, whose best years are still ahead of him at 26.
The Cynical Reality Check
So, De Ligt is back. United is flying high, and Koeman gets to claim credit for seeing the light. This isn't about some deep footballing philosophy; it's about results, plain and simple. It's about a manager correcting a mistake, not because of some inherent foresight, but because the evidence became too overwhelming to ignore. It’s the kind of move that makes you question everything they say in those press conferences.
