Erik ten Hag’s move for Tyrell Malacia last summer reportedly left the Welsh National team stunned after identifying him as a weak link in the Netherlands camp ahead of a pair of fixtures against Oranje in 2022.
In June of last year, Wales took on the Netherlands in two Nations League games. According to the Athletic, pre-match preparations revolved around playing the ball out wide to right winger Brennan Johnson in order to exploit a “lack of physical presence” possessed by Holland’s left wing-back Malacia.
Wales would go on to lose both matches by narrow margins but found success down the right-hand side via Johnson. The Tottenham star, then plying his trade for Nottingham Forest, was able to wriggle free of his opposing full-back on multiple occasions and even managed to grab a goal during a 3-2 defeat on June 14.
It therefore came as a great surprise among Wales’ squad when Manchester United paid Feyenoord £13million for Malacia a few weeks later. The 24-year-old’s time at Old Trafford has been marred by injuries.
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