Louis van Gaal interview

Louis van Gaal has announced his definitive squad for the coming two matches. He selected 28 players.

Why this big squad for the upcoming matches?

LvG: “For me, the World Cup preparation starts now. And apart from the fact that I want to see many players and test players, I also want to start implementing a new system. I remind you that in 2014, we were able to do this, but just. We had to grow into it, during the tournament and it was not ideal. Back then, i had 5 weeks (…) prior to the tournament to do this. Now, I will only have 1 week before the start of the World Cup. So I will need to start now.”

So these Oranje weeks are more about the new system than the matches?

“Correct. Usually, it’s two matches as a main course and the days around it, you practice. I see this differently. I now have a period to work on the new system and we’ll have two interruptions, two games, in between.”

Jordan Teze is a remarkable name. How did you come up with him?

“Well, as you will know, he plays for PSV. He is Dutch. So we follow him. Like we follow many players. And with De Vrij injured, we need some alternatives. Teze is a young player, with an outstanding build up pass. That is how he caught our eye. And that forward pass is important and it’s quite rare to see. He moved from right winger, to right back and now he plays centrally. That experience will be handy for him.”

And Hateboer is back.

“Initially, we wanted to test Frimpong. He is totally new for the group. But he got injured. Hateboer is not new, we know him, he’s an international already but lost his spot due to his injury woes. But he’s playing at Atalanta again, so it felt like a good time to call him back in.”

Denmark and Germany. Two top nations. What do you expect from them?

“I expect that they will be playing at our level, at the least. So we know there is intensity and pressure. They will defend on the front foot and we have not played those type of opponents. It will be great for the fans to see these games. I expect two full stadiums. Great opponents and Denmark has had a tremendous couple of years, Denmark qualified without dropping points and I hope the fans will want to be part of this process.”

Can we expect surprises these games?

“Yes, I think I will have surprises in the line up and in the way we play. Our spirit, but also our system.”

There was also time for some fan questions.

How is your hip doing?

“Thanks for that. I’m doing well. It was a 6 to 8 week thing. I had a tear in my hip, but it was super painful when it happened and I was not allowed to take painkillers, as I had to coach the team the next day. But it was really painful.”

How was it to be back as coach for Oranje?

“I was a bit reluctant and hesitant. There simply wasn’t anyone with the same skills and experience as me. I didn’t do it because I really wanted to. We were also two points behind, we had three big matches in that week and I expected not to be able to add much to it, in the first weeks. But I was wrong, because this is a super group, with a great commitment and maturity. The team spirit is amazing and that is just a joy for any coach.”

What changed since the 2014 campaign?

“Not much. My football vision has never changed. Same in 2012, or 2000 or in 1995. It’s just that the players are different and the generations are different. You cannot be a dictator these days. In the olden days, coaches like Michels were totally authoritarian. And another thing, at Ajax, we always worked from the perspective of “We are the Best!”. But clearly, when you play higher and higher you cannot expect to win all the time. At Barcelona I once played a match versus Valencia. The Valencia of Ranieri. We were 3-0 up in the first half.  And we kept on attacking, so we lost that match 4-3. That was a lesson! And we used this too last time vs Norway. We decided to play fully on result and we were able to manage the game and kill the game.”

How is it for you to work with these young players?

“Actually, it’s great. Working with young players keeps you young. And this group actually triggers me, inspires me. More so than the 2012 or the 2000 squad. They think football, they use analytics, they discuss tactics and ask me questions. That is quite good actually and it keeps me on my toes. And it’s fun. I always look forward to working with them.”

If you had to pick a player from the current generation who is most like you as a player…?

“I was a so-called defensive mid, but I wasn’t. I didn’t defend too well. I was a deep lying playmaker. I could dribble if I wanted to, but I lacked speed. So passing was my thing. And I saw the game well. Of the current squad, I think I resemble Teun Koopmeiners most. He also is comfortable in the deep lying role and his passing ability and vision are great. He is capable to play passes through the lines and he skips lines with his passes. He’s now also more an attacking midfielder, as he does have more speed than I had, hahaha.”

Which coach inspired you most?

“That was Rinus Michels. I was around 14 years old and Michels was coach at Ajax. I was playing but I always went straight to the Ajax training after school. I wanted to see him coaching the team. And I also went the same trajectory as him. I went to study for a physical ed teacher and I got my coaching diploma like him. It’s cool that I too now have coached Ajax, Barca and Oranje, like him.”

Do you have any hobbies outside of football?

“Tennis, golf and playing cards. I love klaverjassen and kingen. Loving my wife is also a hobby of mine. I am never bored.”

What was your favorite Oranje match, as coach?

“That has to be our first match at the World Cup in Brazil, the win over Spain. Spain was World Champion and hardly lost games. The media in Holland wrote “why does Oranje even go to the World Cup??” and we created a plan and the players executed it perfectly and we won: 1-5. That was a big shock to the global football world.”

What do you think of the Nations League?

“It’s a competitive tournament, so that is good. And I see it as a good prep for the World Cup. We hardly have any prep time. So I will use the games to test different players. But playing against Belgium is top. Poland is also a tough opponent. We have amazing opponents, Wales is also not easy.”

What kind of music do you listen to?

“I guess soft-pop, would be the term.  Music from the 60s and 70s, I suppose. The era of the best music. What the kids listen to now, that shrill type of pop beats, I don’t like it. Why would I try to listen to new music, when I know I have heard the best music already.”

Which player is the best young player you ever coached?

“I need to mention Clarence Seedorf here. He was 16 when he made his debut with me and he has won the most prizes internationally. But the ultimate are either Xavi or Iniesta. They were 17 and 18 when they made their debut. They were even better than Seedorf.”

Will we win the World Cup this time?

“I will never say this before hand. But what I can say, is that the Best Team will win. And I will do what I can to make us the Best Team. And then a bit of luck. It’s not the best individuals, but the best team.”

Sadly, I wasn’t able to ask my questions:

Where is Rick Karsdorp ??

“Well, Mourinho loves him. And I loathe Mourinho. So, there is that. Rick is also a Feyenoord lad. So that doesn’t work in his favour. And he might roll his eyes at me. So there.”

 

 

 

Bookmark and Share

37 comments

  1. Is that karsdorp comment for real? What an hypocrite. Self priestage over betterment of the team. It really boils me up when he does this and writes players off. I hope karma will will come to haunt him.

    1. Watched two very good games. Roma vs Lazio. Derby della Capitale. Intense atmosphere and battle of two master taticans as well.

      Once again why karsdorp is been ignored is a disgrace on the face of those two morons. He had a super assist on Abrahams second goal and by half time they had killed the game off. Roma convincingly wining 3-0 and again karsdorp showing how important of a player he has become under Mourinho.

      The second game was off course the De Klassieker. Again intense atmosphere. The match got delayed a bit in the starting because of flare bombardment and banners being lighted up which caused huge flame with black smoke and which had to to be extinguished. Good high tempo and end to end stuff.

      First and formost the battle of the LBs. Malacia tammed Antony through out the game and it was fun to watch Antony crying everytime malacia neutralized him with well time tackles . Malacia really passed the test in this game. Lets see how Van Gaal and the co saw his performance.

      On the other side Daley Blind did have a good offensive shift, just like vs benfica combining with Gravenberch and Tadic but was badly exposed on mutiple occasions including on the first goal after timber lost possession in feyenoord box. Went straight dowm the tunnel showing his frustration( dont know for what) after been subbed off for Tagliafico who did change the complexion of game coming on and assisting in Antony’s winner . I think Malacia really showed in this game, he is ready to start for NT and should get the nod ahead of Blind.

      Berghuis, I have said this many times, he is not a high tempo game player and again this game was not an exception. just couldnt have any authority playing from middle and neither couldnt create much. Had to drift outside to get in action. Was subbed of for brobbery around 69′. Even Till looked better than him but he too faded out badly in the last quarter which was the climax of the game. Also gave away a bad back pass which resulted in feyenoord second goal. Very poor game from him.

      For Feyenoord, Toornstra injury and and the super subs for Ajax changed the complexion of the game. ajax got the upper hand from here on wards with Tadic scoring a sublime freekick and then with feyenoord players looking exhausted, Tadic started exploiting Lutsharel Geertruida who had a very good till around 75′ after which he couldnt contain tadic. Not is fault entirely though as Reis Nelson ran out of gas and didnt track back as he did through out the match and with Toornstra who provided extra cover on that side before his depature. Jorrit Hendrixs who replaced Toornstra was flat and didnt had the same impact as Toornstra had. This is where Ten Hag outclassed his oppponent. The subs for Arne slot just were not up to par with whom they replaced

      Good game though

      1. Excellent analysis Wilson. Toornstra is so important still. Malacia was wonderful indeed. The Tadic free kick was a massive goalie blunder, for me. Blind was frustrated when he walked off because he was playing sub par and should be frustrated with himself.

        I think a draw would have been a fair result.

  2. @Wilson, I think you can take a deep breath and relax. I believe the last question was Jan being playful. I could be wrong, but…

    Note the preface, “Sadly, I wasn’t able to ask my questions:” and the double question mark.

  3. Depay is now bench player at Barca and rightfully so because Aubameyang has been impressive. How do we go to World Cup without a center forward?

  4. Watched two very good games. Roma vs Lazio. Derby della Capitale. Intense atmosphere and battle of two master taticans as well.

    Once again why karsdorp is been ignored is a disgrace on the face of those two morons. He had a super assist on Abrahams second goal and by half time they had killed the game off. Roma convincingly wining 3-0 and again karsdorp showing how important of a player he has become under Mourinho.

    The second game was off course the De Klassieker. Again intense atmosphere. The match got delayed a bit in the starting because of flare bombardment and banners being lighted up which caused huge flame with black smoke and which had to to be extinguished. Good high tempo and end to end stuff.

    First and formost the battle of the LBs. Malacia tammed Antony through out the game and it was fun to watch Antony crying everytime malacia neutralized him with well time tackles . Malacia really passed the test in this game. Lets see how Van Gaal and the co saw his performance.

    On the other side Daley Blind did have a good offensive shift, just like vs benfica combining with Gravenberch and Tadic but was badly exposed on mutiple occasions including on the first goal after timber lost possession in feyenoord box. Went straight dowm the tunnel showing his frustration( dont know for what) after been subbed off for Tagliafico who did change the complexion of game coming on and assisting in Antony’s winner . I think Malacia really showed in this game, he is ready to start for NT and should get the nod ahead of Blind.

    Berghuis, I have said this many times, he is not a high tempo game player and again this game was not an exception. just couldnt have any authority playing from middle and neither couldnt create much. Had to drift outside to get in action. Was subbed of for brobbery around 69′. Even Till looked better than him but he too faded out badly in the last quarter which was the climax of the game. Also gave away a bad back pass which resulted in feyenoord second goal. Very poor game from him.

    For Feyenoord, Toornstra injury and and the super subs for Ajax changed the complexion of the game. ajax got the upper hand from here on wards with Tadic scoring a sublime freekick and then with feyenoord players looking exhausted, Tadic started exploiting Lutsharel Geertruida who had a very good till around 75′ after which he couldnt contain tadic. Not is fault entirely though as Reis Nelson ran out of gas and didnt track back as he did through out the match and with Toornstra who provided extra cover on that side before his depature. Jorrit Hendrixs who replaced Toornstra was flat and didnt had the same impact as Toornstra had. This is where Ten Hag outclassed his oppponent. The subs for Arne slot just were not up to par with whom they replaced

    Good game though

  5. This interview was comical as ever and just as fitting that it was helped out with an air of sly humor to conclude its benign ramblings. Softball questions after softball questions. What music you like??? Everything and anything but what any die-hard Oranje fan would like to know: where is Karsdorp?

    The interview itself is a microscopic study and symbolic of the systemic issue that has plagued Dutch management without a hint of irony; the bias and favoritism that pervades it corridors and preaching about wanting “to see many players and test players” in the next breath. Karsdorp had a chance of being called up as much as there was the possibility of Zeist allowing a journalist, with integrity,a mile away from LVG, bent on asking honest, uncomfortable questions. Neither was going to happen because the equilibrium of the apparatus, this disgraceful set-up of us-against-them won’t stand to look at itself in a mirror.

    I have always preached about the reliability of PATTERNS and how they tend to tell the whole story as it unfolds. Of course this journalist was properly vetted and the process itself was performative and frankly a disgrace. But so is the promise of giving every player a fair shot as it should be and clearly doing the opposite.

    But Karsdorp’s situation grinds my gears just a little more. The level of cynicism and vindictiveness he has being treated by Oranje is nothing new to this management body but just a little more. One can argue that Blind could have overlooked Karsdorp during his tenure but FDB had no excuse for his recalcitrance towards him. And of course the Kartel, now helmed by LVG has to hold on to the course as to prove how right his predecessors were and most importantly to shore up in the face of us peasants their level of unified, higher thinking and how they will always see what us humans will never be privy to. This is ego. Toxic and destructive in its wake.

    This same ego that led them scrambling and on their knees to win the service of the neglected Cillesen when sxxt was about to hit the fan. This is a pattern. Nothing new. But what bothers me the most is the the compromise that has been imposed on the team for whatever reasons may be. Right back is arguably our lightest position in the team and an injury away from Rensch or whoever their fantastical fancy endears them to. Yet here we are and one of the best right back in the whole of Europe being outrightly rejected. I saw a bit of the Lazio Roma game and was fortunate to see the Karsdorp assist. Whipped in with purpose and venom to the glee of the on-rushing Abraham who finished with aplomb given the height and accuracy of pass.

    We as Oranje fans deserve better. We deserve a lot more from these petty, vindictive and lowly men. Just being arbitrary and frankly authoritarian might sooth your fragile makings as a man or what ever shortcomings you may have to overcome. But it does not help our team and takes away from my precious little time writing this little note as sort of a carthasis.

  6. @Jan
    “””Where is Rick Karsdorp ??

    “Well, Mourinho loves him. And I loathe Mourinho. So, there is that. Rick is also a Feyenoord lad. So that doesn’t work in his favour. And he might roll his eyes at me. So there.””””‘
    That made my day…
    @Wilson this is not the first time Malacia FU@$king Antony…Antony is next sensational player,what a player…To FU$%%^k him like that Malacia is too good bothe defensivly and offensivly better than Blind…Malacia is our eligible starter…While winjdal doesnt belong to orange ,he is average quality..Blind should be picked over winjdal….
    The Depay issue….i think LVG should look in to Gakpo and Brobbey as strikers in coming matches..Depay is on decline..
    Anyways Flekken will start and so are many…i hope Van dijk,deligt ,dejong doesnt play..so is erjwin and malen…i want sect of players who should get exposed..
    ——Danjuma——————–Lang——–
    —————–Berghuis———————-
    Winjdal—–koopmeiners—De roon——Hateboer
    ———Blind—-Ake——-Teze —————–
    ————-Flekken————————-
    to start…..So we might end up in 4-0 loss vs Germany and Denmark with a boring game…

    1. My friend, you seem to have just woken up. This friendly is not about winning or losing. As per van gaal its about trying the new system and wants all the players to get the grasp of it. He even called up players who are nursing injuries as well. He wants a pull 2014 again and quoted saying the WC prep starts from here.

      Also an indication that there will be no more new faces unless injuries. Gravenberch exception whom I think will be back.

      I dont understand though why he wants to go 3’5’2 when he has good wingers.

      1. Wilson you didnt get my point…i want these danjuma/hateboer/winjdal..hateboer is a boring crap,Winjdal was a head less chicken,cannot defend,cannot give a cross..may be once in a blue moon he might pull a blind type of cross…danjuma is mismatch with work rate and runs.. type guys to be exposed…that will not happen when they play Dejong,Virgil,Deligt and De vrij ,Depay ,Berjwin etc…

  7. LVG tested Positive for Covid-19 the great chinese virus…No wonder he took 3 jabs and he will have Covid.Vaccine is to prevent you from getting covid..Most us in my place they got jab and got positive..LVG wants every dutch team member to have vaccinated..

  8. I ended up attending this Klassieker, and will be going to the Dutch Cup final as well.

    The air around Ajax is very unhappy. There is a lot of negativity after the elimination to Benfica, specifically circling around Ten Hag. A lot of the fans think that his head is somewhere else, and this is why Ajax’s results lately (even though they’ve been winning) have been very unconvincing. The International Break could definitely have not come at a better time.

    Also, in a shocking turn of events Marc Overmars was picked up by Antwerp to be their new sporting director.

  9. Blaming Ten haag for Ajax loss vs Benfica is stupidity at its best…Ajax has lacked of aerial ability was visible from day 1 of this season…since they out scored the opponents with their silky play,no one noticed it..its not surprising the tall players like Vertoghen ,darwin nunes scored against them..Benefica was busparking team with aerial ability,the exact kryptonite for Ajax…What i feared Just happend..

    1. @Tiju, I like Ten Haag as a coach, but it is not “stupidity” or entirely off the mark to lay some of the blame at his feet. In the last few years, all of their European campaigns have ended in a remarkably similar fashion. A difficult (usually at home) loss or draw against a team that on paper they are either on a par with, or were slight favorites over: Valencia, Getafe, Atalanta, Roma, Benfica. All came down to a nervy final game, and each time, Ajax came up short. You can blame the players, but Ten Haag also bears responsibility. And, on this occasion, if the players or Ten Haag, were distracted by the all the reports of his going to MU or what was happening in the front office, that is even more on him. A coach’s job is to have the team ready to play, and if there are distractions deal with them.

      1. @ Emmanual

        “…Ajax has lacked of aerial ability was visible from day 1 of this season…”

        No it was not, it only got exposed vs Benfica. I tried to look for you comment where you said Ajax is on par with liverpool and others but couldnt find it and now as usual you are trying to dodge the bullet.

        Timber has some good qualities but like I said he will always be vunerable arieally. He will always be a liability in that area.

        1. @wilson…ajax plays beautiful football,they would beat bayern liverpool and mancity with their own game….Ajax achilles heal was busparking team with aerial ability on counters..Timber is a monster player…yes he is short he cannot out jump 190 cm players thats fact..ajax owned Benefica in both legs the silly mistake or lack of aerial ability cost them…period..

      2. @Andrew its might be the dutch mental thing as Jan says and many agres to that…Ten haag Ajax was superior to Benefica and other top teams in europe in all the ways except aerial threat..With Ten haag ajax reached this far,with out him they would crumble…

    2. So what you’re saying is that regardless of who was in charge of Ajax, there was no possible way for them to win this match? A different coach couldn’t have used a different formation or different set of players?

  10. I have been hearing about this mental thing and so on which is BS. Ajax was good team but like I also say come crucial stages or the business end of any competition, the credibility of the team is always at stake. Certainly benfica was not a better team than Ajax, but they took the gamble, played with a plan and won. Nobody could have done anything about it.

  11. Timber could be our Nijel De jong… We should go with 433 with Timber as destroyer..
    Gakpo——–Depay——–Berjwin
    ———–klassen————–
    —Dejong———–Timber——-
    Malacia—Virgil—De vrij—–Karsdorp–
    ————–Cillessen—————–
    For the world cup starters…..
    on bench
    Malen——-Brobbey———-Berghuis
    ———-Wijnaldum————
    ——Ake————-Gravenberch—-
    Blind—Botman—De ligt—–Dumfries
    ————Bijlow————————–
    with krul(only for penalty),Weghorst(physical game),lang (as play maker and winger)as other 3 utility players

  12. Jorginho should have been tracking the goal scorer rather than waving at the ref for a handball.

    Happy that the Netherlands didn’t have to play in these qualifiers. All the games were tight and tense, and now the winners have to do it all over again.

Join the Conversation

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.