Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has spoken out on his decision to substitute Matthijs de Ligt at half-time during his side’s 2-2 draw against Germany in the Nations League.

The Manchester United defender gave the ball away in the build-up to Germany’s equaliser to make it 1-1 in the first half.

Centre-back partner Virgil van Dijk could be seen punching the turf in frustration after Deniz Undav scored, with the Liverpool defender then appearing to gesture towards De Ligt.

The United defender was withdrawn from the action at half-time, with the scores at 2-1 to Germany, and replaced by Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

Denzel Dumfries would equalise for the Dutch on 50 minutes, with the game eventually ending 2-2.

In the build-up to the match, Koeman defended De Ligt after he was criticised by sections of the national media for his performance in the Netherlands’ 5-2 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday.

And speaking after the Germany draw, Koeman again sympathised with the defender – but explained why he felt he had to remove him from the action at half-time.

He explained: “Of course, I would rather have kept Matthijs de Ligt on the pitch.

“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 protected him by taking him off.”

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De Ligt will now return to Manchester ahead of United’s away trip to Southampton on Saturday.

Erik ten Hag’s side are looking to bounce back from the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford, with De Ligt starting that game but being replaced by Harry Maguire on 69 minutes.

He moved to United from Bayern Munich for a fee of £45 million in the summer, with the deal being officially announced on the same day that Bayern team-mate Noussair Mazraoui also joined the club.