Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum are furious about the KNVB’s plans to appoint Louis van Gaal as the national coach of the Dutch, reports The Mirror. According to the boulevard newspaper, the two star players of the Dutch national team urged the KNVB for the arrival of Henk ten Cate. The latter left via The Telegraph pretend not to be interested. Van Dijk has since denied the reporting on Twitter.
In addition to captain Van Dijk and vice-captain Wijnaldum, a few more the Dutch players would rebel against Van Gaal’s appointment. So they wanted Ten Cate, who already thanked the media. “I am not available,” said Al-Wahda’s trainer. “Nico-Jan Hoogma (director of top football at the KNVB, ed.) can certainly call me once. Not for the position of national coach, but to finally apologize on behalf of the KNVB for the character assassination that the football association committed in 2017. tried to commit me.” Ten Cate was then approached as national coach, but the KNVB chose Dick Advocaat at the last minute.
This story is completely false. It’s never been more important for journalists to tell the truth and not just make stuff up. Shame on you Mr. @MullockSMirror https://t.co/aYRDvqSk21
— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) July 17, 2021
Incidentally, it is not the first time that Ten Cate’s name has been associated with the the Dutch squad. In September last year, the KNVB was looking for a replacement for Ronald Koeman. Then Kees Jansma reported in the talk show of Football International that the players’ council, which then consisted of Virgil van Dijk, Kevin Strootman, Ryan Babel, Matthijs de Ligt and Daley Blind, had asked for Ten Cate. The KNVB eventually decided to go for Frank de Boer, who left after the failed European Championship.
Van Gaal was visited last week by Nico-Jan Hoogma and Eric Gudde of the KNVB. The appointment of the coach has some snags, as Valentijn Driessen from The Telegraph outwards. Van Gaal lives in Portugal and would have to deal with the Dutch tax authorities when appointed as national coach. The KNVB would also have trouble getting the staff members that Van Gaal wants from their employers.
Reaction from Virgil van Dijk
Van Dijk denies the reporting of The Mirror firmly. “This story is completely untrue,” said the 30-year-old Liverpool defender. “It has never been more important for journalists to tell the truth and not just make things up. Shame on you, Mr Simon Mullock,” he refers to the journalist behind the story.