Louis van Gaal was not in the mood for a one-on-one interview with Hélène Hendriks for Veronica Inside on Tuesday. The national coach was presented to the media by the KNVB on Tuesday during a press conference in Zeist, but an individual conversation afterwards was not possible for the reporter of the television program.
“I was able to ask two questions during the press conference. I didn’t get a one-on-one interview with Van Gaal. That has to do with the fact that he doesn’t want anything to do with Veronica Inside. I understand that too, he has been put through the ironer often enough”, Hendriks admitted frankly. “But he’s looking forward to it, he looks fit and he was sharp.”
During the first broadcast of Veronica Inside, Johan Derksen indicated on Monday evening that he was going to watch Van Gaal’s press conference ‘of course’. “Maybe it’s fun, maybe it’s annoying, but something always happens,” said the analyst. Presenter Wilfred Genee jokingly noted that he did expect ‘a thank you’ from Van Gaal, referring to the plane ‘Kies Louis’ that flew over Hilversum early last month, during the search for a new national coach.
“We indicated in the broadcast that he was the only choice and you even recorded it for him,” he pointed to Derksen. “I assume tomorrow he will say, ‘Johan, thanks’.” The national coach of the Dutch national team is not a fan of the program, as he has been ridiculed over the years by Derksen and René van der Gijp, among others. It is also generally known that his relationship with reporter Hans Kraay Jr., also a regular guest, is particularly strained.
Derksen recalled on Monday evening that the program had ensured that Van Gaal received 15,000 euros for Spieren voor Spieren, the foundation of which the national coach is honorary chairman. According to Genee, that was something different. “There was a man who offered Van Gaal 16,000 euros if he would sit at our table. Louis then offered 17,000 euros not to have to sit here. That man then offered 18,000 euros and Van Gaal in turn 19,000 euros to just sit here.”
“That then went on to 30,000 euros. Then ringmaster Wilfried de Jong said: ‘This is going to be very painful’. He asked the man whether he would rather not visit his company for that money, whereupon he said again: “I have I’d rather he join the programme.’ But Van Gaal was going to outbid, on his own, so as not to have to sit here. So I don’t think he’d like to come here very much.” Derksen: “But we are not waiting for Van Gaal here either.”
The players of the Dutch national team chose to boycott Veronica Inside a year ago, following statements made by Derksen about the Black Lives Matter demonstration in Amsterdam and the performance of rapper Akwasi. Just before the European Championship it turned out that the boycott was still in force. “They made and explained that choice last year. The KNVB has always indicated that players can make their own assessment in this,” a spokesperson emphasized.