On the eve of the quarterfinal match between the Netherlands and Argentina, which will see the semifinal of Qatar 2022, Louis van Gaal, the Dutch coach, contradicted some of Ángel Di María’s statementswhom he met at Manchester United and said about the coach that he was the worst coach he had ever had in his career.
“Di María is one of the few players who thinks I’m the worst coach. I’m sorry and saddened that he said this. Memphis – sitting next to him at the press conference – thought so too. But now we’re kissing on the mouth”, Van Gaal said.
During Friday’s match between the Netherlands and Argentina, the Dutch coach praised the Albiceleste team. “Argentina is a top country with top soccer players in its team,” he said.
“The tournament really starts for us tomorrow (Friday), although I don’t want to discredit all the other countries we beat. But Argentina and possibly Brazil, in the semifinals, are different. It’s something different from other games and other teams we’ve faced in the group stage or in the round of 16,” said Van Gaal.
The match between ‘oranje’ and Argentina will be played at the Education City stadium in Ar-Rayyan, where thousands of South American fans will attend. “My players are professional enough to deal with it. Of course it’s not easy when there are 40,000 Argentines in the stands and only 1,400 followers, although they were 400 more than expected. There is an upward trend and that is what is happening,” Van Gaak assumed.
Van Gaal had to accept criticism from the Netherlands for the team’s play. More conservative than traditional. “I am a coach with a very sick DNA. In Barcelona, I noticed that you can’t always reach it. It was there that I first thought differently about football and developed a vision. Many countries play this system. Playing us with more patience than before, but as a coach I always approach the players in the same way. I haven’t changed much,” said the Dutch coach.
According to Van Gaal, his style dominates current football. “In this World Cup we see that the results are short. Defending together and in a compact way allows you to attack more easily. It is not true that we are only defending. Trying we will press in the most different ways possible.”
“I didn’t say that Brazil is only a counter-attacking team, but they do the same number as us. They have great technical players and in my opinion they are the top favourites. We are a country with a chance to be world champions, because I hope we have the best team. That’s different than other countries,” said Van Gaal who envisioned any scenario, including the penalty shootout in which he was eliminated by Argentina at Brazil 2014.
“Players can take penalties in their own way. They practiced and still do. We hope this is a small advantage. We cannot control the pressure, but we can increase the small advantage,” he concluded.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
