{"id":1254317,"date":"2022-03-28T15:00:53","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T14:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1254317"},"modified":"2022-11-24T20:45:54","modified_gmt":"2022-11-24T20:45:54","slug":"louis-van-gaal-tactics-virgil-van-dijk","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/louis-van-gaal-tactics-virgil-van-dijk\/","title":{"rendered":"“The manager decides” \u2014 Van Gaal responds to Van Dijk\u2019s criticism about his tactics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal has leapt to the defence of his own tactics after international captain Virgil van Dijk questioned his system.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Liverpool centre-back appeared to hit out at Van Gaal’s 3-4-1-2 formation following the nation’s recent 4-2 win over Denmark, saying he prefers to play in a 4-3-3, a set-up he has become accustomed to at Anfield.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Oranje\u00a0<\/i>fired four past Denmark on Saturday, they looked susceptible at the back, with Jannik Vestergaard and Christian Eriksen getting their names on the scoresheet for the visitors.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Van Gaal has now retaliated to the recent criticism levelled at him by Van Dijk, saying he has already held discussions with his skipper about the set-up, and that ultimately he will make the final call.<\/p>\n

He said: “I know he has that preference, he always said this publicly.<\/p>\n

“We already had this debate when I came here. The manager decides the tactics.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Van Dijk started the weekend’s friendly in Amsterdam alongside Matthijs de Ligt and Nathan Ake in a back-three, and while he said there were some positives to take out of the game, his preference will always be to play in a formation heavily-favoured by Jurgen Klopp.<\/p>\n

Van Dijk said: “Until today we have been training hard, with lots of tactics and meetings. There are good times but also things to improve. We will analyse this.<\/p>\n

“Of course, we are playing in a new system, different things are required of the players. But I think we showed a lot of good things.<\/p>\n

“Do I like the system? Well, I’m still in favour of 4-3-3 but I’m not the national coach and the national coach has a very strong opinion about it.”<\/p>\n