Prioritize Player Fitness, De Boer Protests Playing 3 Times In 8 Days

JAKARTA - Netherlands national team coach Frank de Boer said considering the welfare of players is his priority when he selected his team for the Nations League away match against Italy despite being under pressure to immediately reap positive results.

The match against Italy will be De Boer's third match since replacing Ronald Koeman. The Netherlands never scored a goal under his tutelage so the new coach faced pressure to win.

"Playing three games in eight days is too much," said De Boer alluding to the schedule in which his team lost 1-0 to Mexico in a friendly and drew 0-0 against Bosnia in the Nations League away on Sunday.

"I also have to think about the players. They all have to come back for their clubs and that's something I have to consider. Therefore, you can't always be ready to face the game in the way you want to," he said at a press conference in Bergamo. Between , Tuesday.

The 50-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam, Inter Milan, Crystal Palace and Atlanta coach is under pressure due to his poor start with the Netherlands national team.

"Against Bosnia we didn't play well but we could still create five good chances. We didn't take advantage of them. The previous coach had that good fortune," he said, pointing to Koeman's positive note.

"We have a very motivated squad who can also criticize each other. Against Bosnia it seemed we lost the aggression, but that's because we were late for the whole match. We have to make sure we have a duel tomorrow."

What benefits the coach is that Memphis Depay has been able to return to strengthening his attacks after being hit by a ban.