Two weeks into his third stint as Netherlands coach, Louis van Gaal has a transparent purpose: “To be world champion.”
But he conceded Tuesday it gained’t be simple with very restricted time to arrange his group for 3 essential World Cup qualifiers subsequent month.
The Netherlands reached three World Cup finals — in 1974, ’78 and 2010 — and misplaced all of them. It gained the 1988 European Championship.
Van Gaal was put accountable for the Dutch nationwide group after Frank de Boer stop after the Netherlands was knocked out of Euro 2020 within the spherical of 16 by the Czech Republic.
In usually self-confident model, Van Gaal was satisfied the Dutch soccer federation had chosen the correct man for the job.
“I have always done everything to help Dutch soccer and I think if I’d been in the position of the KNVB I’d also have chosen me,” the 70-year-old coach stated at his first information convention.
Van Gaal, who got here out of retirement to take the job, additionally has led membership groups together with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Ajax. In his final interval accountable for the nationwide group, he led the Oranje to a shock third place within the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
He stated this time might be completely different as a result of he has such a brief preparation together with his squad earlier than World Cup qualifiers towards Norway, Montenegro and Turkey subsequent month. Van Gaal’s group at present stands second in Group G, one level behind chief Turkey.
In his talks up to now with gamers Van Gaal has not dwelled on the disappointing Euro 2020.
“I didn’t talk about the past, that’s totally uninteresting. We talked about the future,” he stated.
De Boer confronted fierce criticism for not enjoying a system of 4 defenders, three midfielders and three forwards on the European Championship — an attacking formation that’s drilled into Dutch gamers from village youth groups to the fabled Ajax academy.
Van Gaal stated gamers he has spoken to up to now expressed a desire for that system, however he made no guarantees he would use it. At the 2014 World Cup he efficiently chopped and adjusted between techniques and gamers, incomes a popularity as a grasp tactician.
“I always listen to my players, yes, but I look at the qualities of an opponent, I look at the qualities of my own squad and I adapt a system to fit,” he stated.
Asked about protests over the human rights document in 2022 World Cup host nation Qatar, Van Gaal stated it shouldn’t be as much as gamers however nationwide federations to voice opposition.
“It’s clear you should take action,” Van Gaal stated.