‘I hardly dare to call him’

Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 23:15• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 23:17

Louis van Gaal sees Memphis Depay as the star of the Dutch national team against Montenegro (4-0). The attacker opened the score from a penalty he deserved, after which he also took the 2-0. Frenkie de Jong also played an excellent game in the eyes of the national coach. Thanks to the victory, the the Dutch took an important step towards the 2022 World Cup.

During the interview with the ., Van Gaal was NOS serenaded by remaining supporters who lined the field. He gestured to the fans that he couldn’t understand the interviewer, after which the fans stopped. After Wednesday’s game against Norway (1-1), Stefan de Vrij was named by Van Gaal as the best player and this time it was someone else. “In my eyes that was, I dare not call him, Memphis Depay.”

With his comment, Van Gaal seemed to refer to Friday’s press conference, when he was asked by Valentijn Driessen why Ronald Koeman is the only coach who gets Depay to play football. “If you want to draw conclusions after one game, that’s up to you. That’s not up to me,” said Van Gaal in an interview with Valentijn Driessen. On Saturday evening he not only highlighted the goals, but also Depay’s work ethic.

“It is unbelievable what he has run. I think he walked 11 miles. Not many strikers do that,” said the national coach. “Frenkie de Jong also played very well. It was a different Frenkie de Jong than against Norway.” Against Norway, Van Gaal chose to replace Steven Berghuis in the break, but this time the right winger was allowed to remain the entire game. Berghuis’s game appealed to him.

“We don’t have a shadow player for Berghuis on the right side,” Van Gaal explained. “That’s our problem. We are thin on the wingers. Berghuis is simply the best right winger, who can go inside with his left leg. Because of the substitution I made with Denzel Dumfries in place of Jurriën Timber, we also had a running right wing defender, which made it easier for Berghuis to play.”

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Berghuis did have a difficult start against Norway. He struggled to pass his man on the sidelines and his wide passes missed the right direction. Gradually, however, Berghuis came out better, Van Gaal did not want to change him again. “You also have to give players confidence. I had already substituted him in the first game, so you can’t switch again. But I think Berghuis played a good game overall.”