'I am done' - Manchester United ace Tyrell Malacia's reaction to World Cup snubs

Tyrell Malacia has spoken about the difficulties he faced as he was constantly snubbed for selection by Louis van Gaal during the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign.

The left-back failed to get on the pitch at all, with 32-year-old Daley Blind chosen to start ahead of him in every match. Malacia featured in five of his country’s eight games in 2022 prior to the World Cup.

However, he failed to get off the bench in any of the five matches in Qatar as the Dutch were sent home in the quarter-finals after a penalty shoot-out loss to eventual champions Argentina.

Malacia has featured in both of United’s post-World Cup games against Burnley and Nottingham Forest, keeping a clean sheet in both outings. Those were his first competitive minutes since the 2-1 win over Fulham before the mid-season break, when he filled in at right-back for the suspended Diogo Dalot.

Malacia, who has six international caps, has detailed how he found it tough not being in Van Gaal’s favour at the World Cup and almost gave up hope. Speaking to Viaplay, as per Inside Futbol, he said: “It is of course difficult when you are not allowed to get any minutes.

“You keep hoping in every game and you do your best in training. You try to support the team as much as possible but it was certainly difficult.

“I want to play every game, so yes, it was difficult to when you are in the squad for so many weeks and still don’t play. Of course, I had a moment of, ‘I am done’ for a while.

“But you always have to pick yourself up as you never know when you have to be there. You always have to be ready.”