Louis van Gaal has criticised a journalist who claimed that both Liverpool and Chelsea play defensive football.
The argument took place during the Netherlands manager’s press conference, ahead of their game against Turkey on Tuesday, in which he was criticised for his own tactics.
Dutch journalist Valentijn Driessen accused the former Manchester United boss of adopting defensive gameplans, as he wished to replicate Jurgen Klopp’s side, which led to a dispute with the 70-year-old.
“The one who applauds defensive football is you. You want to play like Chelsea and Liverpool ”, Dreissen suggested.
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“Is that defensive football in your opinion?" responded Van Gaal.
Van Gaal’s predecessor, Frank de Boer, attracted criticism throughout Euro 2020 for adopting a wingback formation, before exiting at the round of 16.
Currently undergoing his third stint as head of the national team, Van Gaal also utilised a back-five system as he led the Netherlands to the World Cup semi-finals in 2014.
However, Dutch football is heavily influenced by Johan Cruyff’s dedication to a certain style of 4-3-3, which has provoked the statement that Jurgen Klopp ’s side is a defensive one.
“It’s not [defensive] at all. You don’t understand that, I’m sorry to tell you this way, but you are just a journalist who wants to implement a vision, but you have no vision of football”, Van Gaal continued.
“You have a vision for newspapers and that’s fantastic and you get lots of attention but with 5-3-2 or 5-2-3 you can play great attacking football.
“Chelsea show that every time with a different player selection. I take my hat off to Mr. Tuchel for that.”
