Louis van Gaal is a taste many football purists in the Netherlands still struggle to acquire but he can counter the complaints with results as he successfully plotted the route into another World Cup quarter-final. Van Gaal is fighting off the same charges of negativity that he faced when taking the Dutch to third place in the 2014 World Cup, when they only lost on penalties to Argentina in the semi-final.
This vastly-experienced coach was typically forthright in his response to his detractors. And the 3-1 win against the United States in the last 16 here in Qatar means he has now gone 19 games unbeaten since replacing Frank de Boer in August 2021 to start his third spell as the Netherlands coach.
His team produced a ruthless display of finishing to punish a wasteful US side and it was a satisfied Van Gaal who packed away his trademark notebook and pen before a cursory wave towards the stands after victory was complete.
Van Gaal is a notoriously hands-on micromanager of a coach, which those so beloved of the Dutch’s famous ‘total football’ believe removes freedom of expression and flair.
There is no doubt his methods and straight-talking manner do not win him unanimous favour but there is also no doubt he gets results at this level, which means the Dutch are not a team to be underestimated.
And Van Gaal is still on course to make his biggest statement of all to those who question him as he moves into the closing stages of the World Cup once again.
Credit: bbc.com
