The Dutch newspaper made a table to assess the mood of coach Van Gaal
The reason AD made the watch sheet is that Van Gaal is known for his unpredictable and erratic attitude during press conferences. According to this newspaper, the coach's mood is very positive when he and the Netherlands prepare for the opening match against Senegal on November 21.
In a press conference on November 16, Van Gaal revealed how choosing a shirt number is considered strange. Accordingly, the number of shirts will be determined by player age instead of position. The 71-year-old leader also thinks it is right for Dutch fans to boycott the 2022 World Cup because of human rights issues, but he hopes they will follow if the team reaches the final.
Van Gaal built a reputation through more than 20 years of leading clubs Ajax, Barca, AZ and Bayern. His record includes four Dutch championships, 1995 Champions League, two La Liga and one Bundesliga.
Van Gaal is also known for his unexpected staffing decisions. Before the penalty shootout in the 2014 World Cup quarter-final, he replaced main goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen with Tim Krul and then the Netherlands overcame Costa Rica. The Netherlands later won bronze.
In choosing players for the 2022 World Cup, Van Gaal also surprised many experts. He overlooked the high-profile Newcastle defender Sven Botman and Bayern midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.
After the Netherlands failed to win a ticket to the 2018 World Cup and lost to the Czech Republic 0-2 in the 1/8 round of Euro 2021, Van Gaal re-appeared on the coach bench. The military talent of the veteran tactician has breathed new life into the team. In the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Europe, the Netherlands topped Group G, winning tickets directly to Qatar. They also top Group A4 Nations League with five wins and one draw, six points ahead of Belgium.
At the 2022 World Cup, the Netherlands will play three Group A matches, against Senegal on November 21, Ecuador on November 25 and Qatar on November 29. The 2022 World Cup is also Van Gaal's last tournament. The 71-year-old coach is working while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
