Koeman's decision to sub out Man Utd defender against Germany was a move to safeguard him, says Zack Oaten

De Ligt assisted Germany's Deniz Undav for an equalizing goal, but his failed clearance resulted in Joshua Kimmich scoring the lead for Germany before the half-time whistle blew.

Koeman spoke about the decision to take him out the game. 

“Of course I would rather have kept (Matthijs de Ligt) on the pitch," Koeman told Dutch broadcaster NOS. 

“It just looks like he is now in a period where all his mistakes are being punished. 

"I gave him a new chance today but eventually I protected him by taking him off." 

In his press conference on Monday before the draw against Germany, he spoke on the defender and how he was unable to mark 38-year-old striker Edin Dzeko in their win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

"He did not get his footwork right. It was a bad individual moment for a defender. You have to learn from that, it is clear that these kinds of moments need to be improved. 

"But we should not be dramatic about it and put too much emphasis on it."