Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt has revealed he understands the fans have been “angry” but claimed he will focus on “working to improve myself”.
The 20-year-old has come under a lot of pressure after his €85m move from Ajax to Juventus last summer and after starting the season as Leonardo Bonucci’s partner, he was replaced by an impressive Merih Demiral at the end of 2019.
Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt has revealed he understands the fans have been “angry” but claimed he will focus on “working to improve myself”.
The 20-year-old has come under a lot of pressure after his €85m move from Ajax to Juventus last summer and after starting the season as Leonardo Bonucci’s partner, he was replaced by an impressive Merih Demiral at the end of 2019.
But Demiral has been ruled out with an ACL injury he picked up against Roma and De Ligt has started in the Old Lady’s last two wins against Udinese and Parma.
He claims that the fans have the right to react when he made “such mistakes” earlier in the season, but said he is concentrating on his own “progress”.
“It’s normal, it’s all normal,” he told Tuttosport. “If I had been in their shoes, I would also be angry at such mistakes. But as a player these are problems that shouldn’t interest me.
“I just have to think about working to improve myself, understand if I’m making progress or not.”
After a tough start to life with at the Allianz Stadium, the young defender has insisted that he is happy with his “first six months” at the Bianconeri.
“For sure, I am happy with the way my first six months have passed,” he said. “I’m convinced that I will get better and better, game after game.”
Cristiano Ronaldo was also criticised during the first half of the season, but his numbers have sky-rocketed since December and the Portuguese superstar proved his value again with a brace during the 2-1 win against Parma.
“We know him well, he’s an incredible player,” De Ligt said. “I remember he was heavily criticised a couple of months ago, but he was able to silence everyone.
“He came back from a not so good moment and now he’s showing that he’s absolutely incredible. I’m very happy for Cristiano.”