Memphis Depay will not start during the opening game at the World Cup against Senegal. Louis van Gaal announced this during the press conference. The Barcelona forward is recovering from injury and has not recovered in time, it appears. Vincent Janssen is most likely his replacement. Depay received permission from Barça to travel to the Netherlands earlier. On Monday he reports in Zeist, where the rehabilitation process is continued.
“Memphis Depay is still injured. Or has not recovered,” said Van Gaal during the press conference in Zeist. “That is already against my vision, but Memphis has been so important to this group. Not only as a football player, but also as a person. I have kept a place open for that. He is medically fit, that has now become the limit , which I don’t really like, because we’re not a rehabilitation center, but I have to build Memphis.”
Van Gaal indicated that Memphis could possibly substitute against Senegal. “He is not going to start. I already know that,” said the national coach. “In my opinion, that is a risk we run as a group, because he is the top scorer of the the Dutch squad and the assist king. Anyway, I can’t change that. That’s just the way it is. But he is medically fit. he trained and he will be delivered here on Monday. Then we will continue to build a player from rehabilitation. He can do anything.”
Van Gaal also announced who will replace Depay against Senegal. “If Memphis doesn’t play, Vincent Janssen will probably be the starting player. That may come as a surprise to you, but not to me.” In addition to Depay and Janssen, Steven Bergwijn, Cody Gakpo, Luuk de Jong, Noa Lang and Wout Weghorst are the other selected attackers. Brian Brobbey, among others, is one of the dropouts.