Tyrell Malacia said his best position is at left-back after Louis van Gaal trialled the Manchester United defender at centre-back during international break.
The 23-year-old defender was subbed on at half-time of the Netherlands’ 1-0 victory over Belgium on Sunday, a win that secured their place in the finals of the Nations League.
Coming on in place of Nathan Ake, it was expected that Malacia would operate at left-wing-back with Daley Blind moving to the centre of defence, but instead it was Malacia who would operate on the left side of a back three alongside Van Dijk & Jurrien Timber.
While it was a role that the player was unfamiliar with, he performed admirably and safely contained Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne.
But, he did make one too many marauding forward runs for Van Gaal’s liking and the duo even shared a heated exchange on the touchline.
But Malacia says that the argument is now just water under the bridge and that he understands the manager’s decision to play him centrally, though he would much rather remain a left-back.
‘I went two or three times too much forward,’ the United star said in the mixed zone, as quoted by De Telegraaf. ‘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.’
Malacia has made a good start to life at Old Trafford after moving from Feyenoord over the summer, having already usurped Luke Shaw as first-choice left-back under Erik ten Hag.
Speaking after Sunday’s match, Van Gaal said that he was pleased with Malacia’s display and revealed that the decision to play him centrally was motivated by injuries to the Dutch squad.
‘I put Malacia in the left centre-back role because [Bruno] Martins Indi is not going to make it to the World Cup squad in time due to injury,’ the former United manager told ESPN NL.
‘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.’
