Former internationals Ruud Gullit and Wim Kieft are looking forward to the matches of the Dutch national team at the World Cup in Qatar. The two columnists of The Telegraph in conversation with the newspaper, let their light shine on Louis van Gaal and on the ideal keeper for the Dutch. Gullit also thinks Bert van Marwijk is the best national coach ever, while Kieft is critical of Jurriën Timber. “I have doubts about him.”
The two former footballers do not agree with each other about whether Van Gaal is the right man for the moment. “Yes, he is,” Gullit is clear. “Van Gaal wants to finish it very well for himself: this must be the right conclusion to his coaching career for him. I also think he’s a great trainer for such a group, but I don’t always get along with how he brings things and appropriating achievements. I think differently about that,” says former player of Feyenoord and PSV.
“Then I have more with Van Marwijk. He did not do that at all, while he has delivered much greater achievements as national coach of the Netherlands. Bert brought us to a World Cup final, so that was simply the best national coach.” Kieft believes that it remains to be seen whether Van Gaal is the right man. “You can see that he is very busy with it. He can prepare the team very well, but he can’t put the balls in himself. He is of course a good coach for any team and I think he has learned something.”
The former striker of Ajax also sees that the national coach draws some things and achievements to himself. “You have to buy that into the bargain. He is a huge professional, but also very happy with himself. You see that day in, day out and at every press conference.” Both Gullit and Kieft opt for Justin Bijlow under the bar. “He has done well in the the Dutch squad before and has also shown that he is good in the European competitions this season,” says Gullit. His fellow columnist agrees. Kieft also thinks the suspected line-up with Cody Gakpo, Steven Bergwijn and Vincent Janssen against Senegal is ‘quite logical’. “In midfield, Steven Berghuis can stand next to Frenkie de Jong, especially against lesser opponents.”
The former Ajax player is critical of Timber. “I have doubts about him. He underwent a mega development last year: it was relatively easy for him to break through like this, because he has quality. There was no pressure and when he played badly, people didn’t even notice. But after that you have to deal with higher expectations. Then things don’t go well at Ajax and I thought he played weak the last few weeks. What is a strong point is that he defends forward.” Whether we can absorb any injuries from Virgil van Dijk, De Jong or Memphis Depay? “No, then we don’t have enough up our sleeve. You really have to be lucky enough not to get injured.”