Louis van Gaal makes little effort after el Clásico to hide his disappointment about the defeat of Barcelona. The former trainer of the Catalans criticizes Ziggo Sport the defensive game of Real Madrid, which won the match 2-1 and leads LaLiga. “I am here with a broken heart, because I think Barcelona basically has better match tactics, more attractive than Real Madrid,” said Van Gaal.
Barcelona fell 2-0 in the first half, but fought back thanks to a somewhat lucky goal from Óscar Mingueza, who scored with his shin. “I call the goal in itself a disabled goal”, says Van Gaal. “Then people will think I’m silly for me to say that, but this is a bit of luck. It’s outside shin, not something he meant. But they deserved it, of course.”
Van Gaal continues to emphasize that in his eyes Barcelona had earned more. “The first half was the division of possession 69 against 31 (for Barça, ed.). Real Madrid scores from a counter, which confirms their way of playing. That’s easy. Barcelona put in another player in the second half. is offensive and take out a defender (Antoine Griezmann came in for Sergiño Dest, ed.). Then it is earned 2-1, and Real Madrid’s play remains the same.
Jack van Gelder asks whether Real Madrid’s tactics might be better than Barcelona’s. Van Gaal reacts irritated to this. “You want to emphasize that the defensive play is good.” Van Gelder says: “No, I do want to say that it is smart.” Van Gaal again disagrees and says: “No, that is not smart, that is cunning. That is something different. Smart and cunning are different things. This is negative. You have to entertain the audience, but there is no audience. , so you’re right, Jack “, says Van Gaal cynically.
Van Gaal has a clear point of criticism of Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman, who started with a 5-3-2 formation, with Frenkie de Jong in midfield. “I also think it was a mistake by Koeman that he did not let Frenkie de Jong play in the back three, but in midfield. I said that beforehand, but now I have to say it afterwards. Frenkie de Jong has barely a touched the ball, while the build-up is much better with him in the back. In the position in the back he has much more contribution in that formation. “