Former Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal could not control his excitement as he watched Red Devils defender Tyrell Malacia score a sumptuous goal in training.
The left-back was named in the most recent Netherlands squad for their Nations League games against Poland and Belgium - the latter clash set to take place on Sunday evening.
After remaining on the substitutes bench against Poland, Malacia has been aiming to catch the eye of his manager and he certainly appears to have done so having triggered a hilarious reaction from the former United schemer during their most recent training session.
In footage shared by ESPN, the 23-year-old was pictured firing in a stunning outside-of-the-boot effort from the edge of the penalty area and whilst Van Gaal himself was not in frame, it was certainly difficult to avoid his reaction.
After witnessing Malacia’s goal, he was heard screaming at the top of his lungs: “Oh Malacia!”
It certainly goes without saying that the United man will be hoping to replicate that strike against Wales on Sunday. In his five caps for the Dutch national team since his debut in 2021, Malacia is yet to get off the mark goal-scoring wise.
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Regardless, he has left many impressed since his breakthrough. Away from Van Gaal, his new boss Erik ten Hag has also been highly complimentary of his young compatriot having been a driving force behind the defender’s summer switch to Old Trafford from Eredivisie side Feyenoord.
Since then, Malacia has gone on to make eight appearances for the Red Devils in all competitions having made the left-back spot his own ahead of Luke Shaw.
Speaking about his transition into the Utd first team with Dutch TV network Rijnmond, he said: “I wasn’t stressed then [at the start of the season]. I know what my qualities are.
“I knew that, in the end, I would be a good competitor for that position. If I got that one chance, I would have to grab it.”
Following the conclusion of the current international break, Malacia has a number of games with the Red Devils left and will be hoping to do enough to retain his place in the Dutch squad for the upcoming World Cup.
Utd are back in action next weekend as they take on City rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium - a match that is surely set to test Malacia to his limits considering the form of Pep Guardiola ’s men. However, the Red Devils are in positive form themselves having won each of their last four Premier League games to recover from their woeful start to the campaign.
