DOHA, Qatar — Louis van Gaal was at his entertaining best ahead of the Netherlands‘ World Cup quarterfinal clash with Argentina, as he admitted he was sad at Angel Di Maria‘s criticism of him, revealed his love for Memphis Depay and also gave a cryptic answer on the team’s plans to combat Lionel Messi.
The Netherlands meet Argentina on Friday at Lusail Stadium in Qatar for a spot in the final four. It will give Van Gaal a chance for personal revenge after his Dutch side lost in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup to Argentina. The outspoken boss will also have a reunion with one of his former players — Argentina’s Di Maria.
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Di Maria was at Manchester United back in the 2014-15 season under Van Gaal, who managed the club from 2014-2016. But the Argentina forward lasted just one season at the club, despite United splashing out £59.7 million on his signing. Later in his career, Di Maria told TyC Sports: “My problem at Manchester was the coach. Van Gaal was the worst of my career.”
Di Maria is an injury doubt for Friday’s clash, but Van Gaal was asked about his former player and the criticism levelled in his direction.
“Angel di Maria is simply a really good football player,” Van Gaal said. “At the time in Manchester, he had a lot of personal issues — there was a break-in at his house — and that affected his fitness that year.
“So the fact that he’d refer to me as a worst trainer — that’s one of the few players who would say that — that’s sad, I don’t like it that he said it, it’s a pity, unfortunate. But that’s just the way it is — a head coach needs to take decisions that don’t always end well.”
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Van Gaal was conducting the news conference sitting next to Memphis Depay, the Netherlands forward. Van Gaal signed Depay for United in 2015, but said their relationship was far from rosy all the time, especially when he dropped Depay for the 2016 FA Cup Final.
But Van Gaal said the two now get on well, with Depay his starting striker here in Qatar.
“Memphis also played [in] Manchester — and now we kiss each other, mouth to mouth — we’re not going to do that now,” Van Gaal said, laughing.
“That’s how things pan out — in football, people are laughing now, but Memphis — I didn’t field Memphis for the final, that’s not nice — a head coach doesn’t do things without reason and it may well have been the wrong decision, but just look at how we deal with each other now!”
Depay was asked for his views on Van Gaal’s managerial style, and said: “Our head coach shows character and a sense of humour, and people appreciate it.
