[1] People talk about the 'Van Gaal system'. How would you describe this? It's a footballing philosophy more than a system. A system depends on the players you have. I played 4-3-3 with Ajax, 2-3-2-3 with Barcelona and I can play 4-4-2 with AZ. I'm flexible. The philosophy stays the same though.
[1] How would you describe this philosophy then, and can you implement it with any team? I don't think that you can adapt it to every possible situation. You need the right mindset, and it depends on how the players see the coach and vice versa. The coach is the focal point of the team but you need to have an open mind, and so do all the players. Everyone needs to work together to achieve a common goal. Preparing your tactical formation is essential. Each player needs to know where he has to be, and that is why there needs to be mutual understanding because you need absolute discipline. This is a sport played by 22 men, and there are 11 opponents out there playing as a team. Each individual needs to know who he has to beat and be there to support his team-mates.
[2] At Bayern: We play very attractively at Bayern. We are always looking to attack and put opponents under incredible pressure. I have my own ways, I'm not going to change and I have no desire to. My way is a footballing philosophy more than a system. A system depends on the players – I've played 4-3-3 with Ajax, 2-3-2-3 with Barcelona and 4-4-2 with AZ – but a philosophy is for life. The coach is the team's focal point, so preparing the tactical formation is essential. Every player must know where he has to be and support his team-mates. There has to be absolute discipline and mutual understanding. Discipline is the basis of creativity and flexibility.
[3][4] Dealing with players: I will face the whole group when we discuss team tactics. I coach the starting eleven when we prepare for a game. I coach very personally. Up close and personal. In their face. I try to reach inside of them. Everything I do and say is to motivate. To make them better. More aware. Every time I see the players, I give them an evaluation moment. I tell them where they stand, in my book. I need to make them better. Or I need to make sure they perform better. And I tell them: I am giving you tools to become a better player. It’s not personal. I am not angry or negative. I see that there is room for improvement. I explain all players how I want to use them.
[5] Comparing his Holland team to Barcelona Correct. In my view, this fits our skills better. We want to create some space. Make the playing field tight. Easier to get possession back and once we do, we can use the space up front with the specific qualities of Robben, Lens, Narsingh, Schaken and Van Persie. We sort of demonstrated that against – of all opponents – Andorra. Against them, we pressured high up the park. We did get the ball back early but hardly any space to move. Against Romania, we dropped deeper and we were much more effective. I call that provoking pressure. We did that in my AZ days too, but no one recognised it. Everyone said we played so offensive, but we really didn’t. We were quick on the break once we had the ball, sure, but we always created our space first. That is a subtle difference to the Barcelona system, which I want Oranje to play. The passing game Barca plays is technically perfect, but its too wide. They play the ball 10 meters diagonally max, and then back again or wide to the other flank. I believe in bypassing the nearest stations and finding the goal more directly. You need to provoke the space first, so to speak. And then you can utilise space for swift, deep actions. I think it’s more entertaining and more effective. Barca wants the ball really quickly but they will be high up the park and they will have absorped lots of space doing so. Despite the moments of genius of a couple of world class players it gets boring, to me. KNVB wants me to develop or re-discover a Dutch style of playing. Barca style isn't.
[6] On what features are needed to be considered a top team First, the players … must have individual qualities… not only as a football player but also as a human being. Because that is also very important, because you have to play in a team and not individually... and then you need a very good trainer coach, that can transfer an philosophy of football... a way of football... and then the eleven players has to perform that... so, the chemistry between the technical quality of the head coach, or the technical staff, with the players selection has to be very good.
[6] Dominant football That you decide how the opponent play their football and not that the opponent decides where we have to play...
[6]General system I want 8 lines... 8 lines... so many as possible... because then the occupation of the pitch it's better… so we are blue... the best occupation of the pitch is this system... 1,2,3,4,5,6,7... and with this dynamic one line more [Figure 1]... but depends where is the ball... when the ball is here he has to go here... so also form a line to pass, but when you play that system you have always triangles… you have always two options for here... here... two options…also more... it's the same here... two options... in the middle it's always more... here it's also a triangle... a triangle.. so that’s why 4-3-3, in my opinion, is the best system and you can play with a defensively player or an offensive player (triangle of midfield) it’s dependable of the quality of your players. When you play a 4-4-2 a lot of teams are doing that, then you have not so much lines... you see... and it’s easy to defend … therefore I played... when I have two good strikers in a window, so then I have six lines, 1,2,3,4,5,6 (He doesn’t count the GR) and dynamically more… [Figure 2]
Figure 1
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Figure 2:
[6] On having/using possession. I think that when opponent it's disorganized and when we gain the ball, then you have to take benefits of the disorganization... but when you always pass wrongly and you lose the ball... then I said... no, no, no… patient, because you see that you always lost the ball, then you have to gain the ball again and again... that it cost us a lot of energy... so when the former is well you can do that and pass well… Then you lose the control of the game, then you always lose the ball, they dominate the game.. so, ball possession it's always important... but it's not so important to score goals... that is not like that when you have 60-70% that you score goals... That it's not the consequence. Because when you have 70% of the ball, then you are playing near... and you cannot score... so you have to dictate where they defend and we can do that to go back.. then they have to come, and then you have space when you lose the ball every time… then you have to run to the ball... and then you lose your dominance.. so that's not good... so the vertical is the pass without risk... the width pass it’s always risky...That's why when they are here... and then you have to pass whitely... then you have a problem... then they can... go in a transition... and you have a lot of players in front of the ball...and then the space is big... When we have the ball they (midfielders) have to open… always at the sides, it’s very important… because of that they (opponent) have to defend width and then we have more space… [The midfielders need] A lot of quality…(…Because these players need to play inside and outside) … inside defensively and outside when we have the ball… and they have to dribble… and then they have to be orientated for a lot of things when we attack. [They should be] Thinkers. Brain. But a lot of trainer coaches want to be here defender always with me… thinkers. Guardiola, Xavi, Jong… always that kind of players.
[6]On a number 10 Number 10 I liked more a midfielder that can go… (more a midfielder then a second striker that come back…) yes… Now I play with a second striker and defensively I doesn’t not work for the team… but at this level in Netherlands wecan keep the safety… but it’s always more difficult… when is defensively… and he can go there also it’s better… but he has to score… this man has to score… so our second striker scores 20 goals… this man has to score… Litmanen always twenty, twenty five goals, Bergkamp twenty, twenty five… not the (striker position)… the ten… because he takes benefits of him…
[6] [On the no.10 dropping] I don’t like it. He (second striker) have to be always behind the midfield line… so they (opponent) have the midfield line, they have a defensive line and then the strikers (our)… so he comes here it’s easily to defend (in front of midfield line)… they can do also with four… it’s easy “boom”… he has to be here… and always not to close of them (defenders line) because he defends him. So close to them (midfielder’s line)…and then in a free space and open… He plays behind the midfield… (…with the back…)… No, no… I have to be open… he has to run always “contra”… “Contra” it’s not in front of him (opponent midfielder) because then he can see the pass line… the ball and is opponent. When you play like that, he can’t see the ball and him… so that’s contra… very important what I’m saying now.
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[7]Here is a preview on Van Gaals Dutch national team To understand how the current Netherlands team plays is to understand Van Gaal's footballing philosophy which has guided him for over two decades. As Van Gaal himself admits, what formation he uses is changeable, but the philosophy is not. In his career his teams have played 3-4-3, 4-4-2, 4-3-3, and 4-2-3-1, but the ethos behind these teams has always remained constant: Maintain possession/constant circulation of the ball Build attacks from the back/If an attack cannot be initiated from the midfield, work the ball back to the center-backs or goalkeeper Width must be attained at all times in the attacking third, whether it be by the winger or fullback (When playing 4-3-3) A midfield 3 consisting of a holding player, box-to-box, and playmaker Fluidity of movement, manipulate and create spaces to dominate the opposition Most importantly, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Every individual must be completely dedicated to working for the collective, or they have no place in the team.
Ne mogu nikako zamisliti Van Gaala na klupi.
