Ruud Gullit watched the press conference of Louis van Gaal with increasing amazement on Monday. The 1988 European champion believes that the national team coach of the Dutch national team is exaggerating in the way he tries to implement his game system. According to Gullit, it is not higher mathematics and in the past it did not take countless meetings to grind a formation into a team.
Van Gaal indicated during the press conference that the preparation time is tight with a view to the World Cup. The national coach will have his 24 selection players at his disposal next week, but has many other obligations in addition to the Nations League matches against Poland and Belgium, making it difficult to focus on the implementation of the system. Van Gaal also has an expert fly in who has to help the goalkeepers with penalties and influencing the opponent.
“We are still working on the implementation of a new system. That is still not top-notch and certainly less than ninety minutes,” said Van Gaal on Monday. “I try to tinker with that, including through individual meetings they have with me and Frans Hoek. And with me and Danny Blind. That is accompanied by images that I show. We will talk about that. The style of the 1 -3-4-3 system can be done in different ways, but it has to be done according to Louis van Gaal’s style and vision and it’s not that easy. They can play in that system in Italy for twenty years, but that doesn’t mean they’re doing it right. At least, in my view.”
Gullit can’t hear Van Gaal’s words. “Stop it man. I’m looking at this with crooked toes,” said the former the Dutch international at Rondo. “Stop it. Rinus Michels didn’t have any meetings with us (in 1988 during the European Championship, ed.). We sometimes had a meeting with five players. Then they were told how we were going to play. Players were old and wise enough “The players that Van Gaal has all play at big clubs. They really know how to play football. If you then say ‘in my view they don’t play the system in Italy at all’… Jesus Christ. What do you want say with this? Italy becomes world champion with it.”
Marco van Basten also thinks it’s all going a bit far. According to the analyst, Van Gaal is a bit carried away in communicating his vision. “In 2010 they also came in second with a different system”, Van Basten refers to the World Cup with Bert van Marwijk. “It doesn’t mean that Van Gaal’s word is the holy word. He’s the national coach now, so he can say that. But that doesn’t mean that it’s the holy word. He kind of pretends to explain the holy word.” and he’s exaggerating a bit. I mean, I think he’s a good trainer, no, but he sometimes gives the impression that he’s doing something really special that no one understands. Try to follow that.”