Indeed, it would not be Louis van Gaal if he gave up easily. He is facng his cancer stalwartly. He has already undergone bestraling, X-ray radiation therapy, 25 times to treat prostate cancer.
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Sindhunata
·6 minutes read
SALOMO TOBING
Sindhunata
Meneer Louis van Gaal is 71 years old. If he wants to retire, it's time. If he wants to be at peace by caring for a tulip garden in Amsterdam, that's fine, too. Why does he still want to go to the trouble of leading the Netherlands team to the Qatar World Cup 2022? Moreover, his health is no longer in prime condition. Is it true that he has cancer?
Indeed, it would not be Van Gaal if he gave up easily. He is facing his cancer stalwartly. He has already undergone bestraling, X-ray radiation therapy, 25 times to treat prostate cancer.
At my age, it's a blessing if I can work with national team players
"In 90 percent of cases, people don't die of this type of cancer, but of other diseases they suffer from," said Van Gaal. He is optimistic that if his cheeks are flushed, people will think he is still healthy.
Old age is also not an issue for him. Like rock singer Tony Marshall, Van Gaal said: "Even at the age of 70, people still have dreams." And he had gone to Qatar to fulfill his dream of bringing the Orange team to its highest achievement. Football is indeed that which allows him to still dream.
“I feel an extraordinary power of will within me to continue. At my age, it's a blessing if I can work with national team players," he said.
Has Van Gaal been able to pursue his dream with the Dutch squad at his age and in his condition?
"Never underestimate Van Gaal," said AZ Alkmaar coach Gertjan Verbeek. He recalled Van Gaal's service in helping the Netherlands place third at the 2014 Brazil World Cup. Moreover, this happened by beating host Brazil with a landslide score of 3-0.
In addition, according to Verbeek, the quality of the Dutch squad today is better than it was eight years ago. At the Brazil World Cup, more balls were deposited at the feet of Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, or entrusted to Wesley Sneijder. The three were none other than the team’s star players.
“Leren van het verleden” means learn from the past. That is the principle of Van Gaal, a coach who is also known as a football pedagogue. From the past, Van Gaal learned that the team should not depend on star players. So now, Van Gaal is desperately molding the Dutch play into a team game with responsibility.
AFP/ALBERTO PIZZOLI
Netherlands' coach Louis Van Gaal
All equal
When coaching Bayern Muenchen, Van Gaal also didn't care much about star players. Said Franck Ribery, who was Bayern midfielder at the time, said: “At the beginning of Van Gaal's coaching term, no one knew what would happen. What we knew [was that] whatever the player's name, they are all the same in front of him. The stars are not taken into account.”
So, for Van Gaal, great doesn’t mean being above the ordinary. What is great is a united team.
Van Gaal said, “Often, the big egos are the most creative people on the pitch. It has to be admitted that in football, you need it. But, they are also often stubborn and hastily convinced [that] they are above the other players because of their creative talents. I believe football is always a team sport and as a coach, it is my job to manage them. I applaud their prowess. However, I don't hesitate. I also often correct it when it is necessary for the benefit of the team."
Football players are products of their time. So according to Van Gaal, what is happening in society today inevitably also sticks to football players. More than ever, the current era is characterized by high individualism. Individuals are less willing to think about each other and more concerned about self-interests.
This attitude has also spread to football. Because of that, even in football it's not easy to form a team now with people who want to lower themselves and hide their individuality, especially if the team has very accomplished players.
AFP/ALBERTO PIZZOLI
Netherlands' coach Louis Van Gaal (R) talks with his wife Truss Van Gaal during a meeting with relatives after a training session at Qatar University training ground in Doha on November 22, 2022 during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament.
Practice discipline
The way to tame egoism and individualism is discipline. In Van Gaal's concept, the discipline of football is not just the discipline of the game. Players must also be able to demonstrate discipline off the field.
“If you can't be disciplined off the field, it will be difficult for people to see you can be disciplined on the field. Discipline is attitude plus behavior,” he underlined.
To enforce discipline, it is not enough to merely agree in word. More than that, football players must want to practice that discipline and convert it into real behavior on the field, so they don't just leave it when faced with a challenge. So, whoever is ready to uphold discipline must also be ready to be corrected if he violates it.
In Van Gaal's eyes, discipline is nonnegotiable. When coached by Van Gaal, Xavi, a Barcelona legend, once sneered, "After two days of training under him, I thought, who the hell is this idiot?"
If you can't be disciplined off the field, it will be difficult for people to see you can be disciplined on the field.
Later, however, Xavi, who now coaches the Catalan club, admitted that the discipline that Van Gaal pushed was an advantage to him as a footballer.
His partner, Andreas Iniesta, also appreciated the Dutch coach. Iniesta said, "He is the most important coach for me."
Ahead of this year’s World Cup, Van Gaal has proved the greatness of the Orange team under his coaching. The Netherlands have never lost in 15 matches, winning 11 games and tying four games. With their 2-0 victory against Senegal on Tuesday, it is understandable that the Netherlands have been dubbed the dark horse.
However, it must be noted that in facing Senegal, the Dutch team did not show class. Van Gaal admitted that his players did not play well. "Our players looked tense. Before [the game], we went to the beach, drank coffee. But that didn’t help, either," he said.
Against Ecuador, Van Dijk and his team must be able to release that tension. Van Gaal wanted his players to be themselves and play to their abilities. That did not happen when facing Senegal, even though they won.
If the Netherlands don't play fluidly and freely, Ecuador is certain to be a dangerous opponent and a threat.
