Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt said ‘the art of defending is to always expect the worst’ and admitted he learns from the veterans at the Old Lady.
The Dutch centre-back arrived from Ajax in July 2019 and the 21-year-old said he he enjoys his time at the Allianz Stadium.
“I’m where I want to be and where I can learn as much as possible,” De Ligt told The Telegraph.
Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt said ‘the art of defending is to always expect the worst’ and admitted he learns from the veterans at the Old Lady.
The Dutch centre-back arrived from Ajax in July 2019 and the 21-year-old said he he enjoys his time at the Allianz Stadium.
“I’m where I want to be and where I can learn as much as possible,” De Ligt told The Telegraph.
“There are experienced guys – [Giorgio] Chiellini, [Leonardo] Bonucci – but also a goalkeeper like [Gianluigi] Buffon and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“We all have our different characteristics and I don’t try and copy them, but I look at Ronaldo and see what he does, how he stays fit all the time.
“I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In the end you find your own rhythm.”
De Ligt joked 43-year-old Buffon ‘could be my father’ but admitted the Bianconeri goalkeeper ‘plays like a 29-year-old’.
“Well, he could be my father! It’s funny because when I see him and the way he behaves I don’t think he’s twice my age,” De Ligt said.
“And that’s also his strength and why he is still playing. He plays with a head like a 29-year-old.”
De Ligt had a tough debut season with the Old Lady but has established himself as one of the main centre-backs under Andrea Pirlo.
“The art of defending is always to expect the worst,” he continued. “There are a lot of players who gamble it will go right for the team, but I always think ‘what if my team-mate loses the ball? What if he (the opponent) gets the cross in?’
“So, I am always thinking that way and in that way you will not be surprised so much because you can be as fast as possible or as strong as possible but if you don’t do this you will always get there a second too late or even a millisecond too late.
“It’s the most important thing that I have learnt here.”
De Ligt has already played 60 competitive games with the Bianconeri, scoring four goals in the process.