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Louis Van Gaal Told Journalist He Has 'No Vision In Football' After Calling His Tactics Defensive

Louis Van Gaal Told Journalist He Has 'No Vision In Football' After Calling His Tactics Defensive

The Netherlands manager hit back after a journalist claimed he played 'defensive football like Chelsea and Liverpool'

Louis van Gaal tore into a journalist after the reporter criticised his tactics for being defensive 'like Chelsea and Liverpool.'

Van Gaal is back in charge of Netherlands, his third spell with the national side, after Frank de Boer left following the disappointing end to the Euros this summer.

Last Wednesday, the Dutch drew 1-1 with Norway, after Erling Haaland opened the scoring, leading to criticism of Van Gaal's 5-3-2 system, that he previously used to get them to the World Cup semi-final in 2014.

One journalist used the pre match press conference, ahead of this week's World Cup qualifier against Turkey to call out the 'defensive' tactics, which ended with Van Gaal responding in typical fashion.

"Look at the [other teams] results," the 70-year-old said, "Look at Italy, European champions, have now drawn twice.

"It's not all that easy. Defensive football has made its appearance and there is applause for that afterwards."

Journalist Valentijn Driessen then claimed the Dutch manager wanted to play defensively, like two Premier League teams, saying, "But the one applauding is you. You also want to play like Chelsea and Liverpool."

"Is that defensive football, in your eyes?" the manager responded.

"It's what Chelsea do," Driessen said of the Champions League holders.

"Not at all, Valentijn!" Van Gaal hit back with, "You have no idea at all. I'm sorry to say it, but you're just a journalist. You want to implement your vision, but you have no vision in football. You have a vision for the newspaper, fantastic. You attract attention, and so on. 

"But with 5-3-2 or 5-2-3 you can attack incredibly well. Chelsea shows it every time, with different formations. And I take my hat off to Mr [Thomas] Tuchel, because he got in halfway through [last season]."

The Dutch have traditionally played with a 4-3-3 attacking system, and were the inventors of 'Total Football,' but Van Gaal's last run as manager saw him use 5-3-2, to good effect.

Ironically, he's actually used 4-3-3 in his first two games in charge, the draw with Norway and a win against Montenegro at the weekend.

Van Gaal took Netherlands to the World Cup semi final seven years ago. Image: PA Images
Van Gaal took Netherlands to the World Cup semi final seven years ago. Image: PA Images

Driessen however wasn't for turning and then criticised how Chelsea played in their Champions League victory over Manchester City and once again accused the former Barcelona boss of enjoying that style of play.

"So [in the] Manchester City [versus] Chelsea [match], did you enjoy Chelsea more than Manchester City?" the journalist asked.

"Yes of course!" said Van Gaal, "You should read my book, because you probably won't."

"But your first vision in your first book is at odds with your current vision," the journalist retorted.

"Have you ever heard of evolution? I'm developing too and Memphis [Depay] is developing too. And me at the age of seventy."

Never change Louis!

Featured Image Credit: ESPN

Topics: Football, Football World Cup, Louis Van Gaal, Netherlands