Manchester United fans catch glimpse of Louis van Gaals training methods as Holland warm up for Ghana friendly Louis van Gaal pretends to take picture of his players in training Holland team train in Rotterdam ahead of World Cup Van Gaal will take over as Manchester United manager after Brazil Holland play Ghana in friendly on Saturday By ADAM SHERGOLD PUBLISHED: 14:05, 30 May 2014 | UPDATED: 17:30, 30 May 2014 It wasn’t quite one of the gruelling 75-minute work-outs Robin van Persie has warned his Manchester United team-mates about, but Louis van Gaal was still his usual uncompromising self as Holland trained on Friday. Van Persie frightened a few in the Old Trafford dressing room this week when he described how Van Gaal would be on their backs every minute during ‘enormously intense’ training sessions. But on the evidence of the final Dutch practice before Saturday nights World Cup warm-up with Ghana, it will be some of his more unorthodox techniques that will unsettle them. There was an entertaining game of head tennis in which three groups of seven - holding hands in a circle - must race from byline to half-way line without allowing the ball to drop. Unfortunately, the circle nearest to Van Gaal weren’t especially good and every time the ball hit the ground, he would despatch them unceremoniously back to the start with an outstretched finger and a look of disdain. During a 40-minute small-sided game, it was imperative that Van Gaal’s team - containing former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt, now at Fenerbahce, and Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul - won. A whistle permanently resting between his lips, he pointed, prodded and posed searching questions until they finally got their act together and scored the decisive goals. At one point, Feyenoord centre back Terence Kongolo turned away from his manager, wincing with pain, and poured cold water down his shorts. The agony wasn’t inflicted by Van Gaal - not on this occasion - but the must-win mentality clearly stretches down to even the smallest of games. When not snapping and snarling, Van Gaal stood aloof in one of two default stances. The one with the arms folded and the one with the hands plunged deep in his pockets. Both, allied with a stern and unchanging expression, leave it clear that this is a meticulous coach who sees everything and demands the highest standards. There was delegation for the warm-ups, to assistants Patrick Kluivert and Danny Blind, but once Van Gaal strode up, there was no doubting who was in charge. There was some fun, too, but only at the very end. When Kuyt and Co finally emerged victors, Van Gaal lined them up in celebratory pose and pretended to take a picture of them. It was probably more of a show for the 5,000-strong crowd - the vast majority kitted out in oranje, naturally - who had gathered at the De Kuip for a public training session. Van Gaal was cheered to the echo whenever he kicked a ball and the consensus was that he’s perhaps leaving for England too soon. But that opinion may change if Holland fail to advance beyond a tricky World Cup group containing Spain, Chile and Australia. Their form hasn’t been great since completing qualification unbeaten with a 2-0 win over Turkey back in October, the subsequent friendlies comprising of draws with Japan, Colombia and Ecuador, and a defeat to France. Van Gaal will cut his 29-man provisional squad - reduced after Rafael van der Vaart pulled out with a calf injury - to 23 on Monday, so the Ghana match is a last chance to impress. He will reshuffle his team, with Van Persie leading a three-pronged attack alongside Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben, and Swansea’s Jonathan De Guzman in midfield. Van Gaal has been here before and not prospered. He was in charge when Ireland beat them to qualification for the 2002 finals and Kuyt believes that failure is his primary motivation. He told De Telegraaf: ‘The disappointment of 2001 has made him stronger. He will do anything to achieve success this time. ‘I think Van Gaal is a very experienced top trainer who knows exactly what is required to perform in Brazil. He knows exactly what he wants and has been a champion in many different countries.’ Read more: dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2643891/Louis-van-Gaal-shows-unorthodox-training-methods-Netherlands-team.html#ixzz33ETVQv15 Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook It wasn’t quite one of the gruelling 75-minute work-outs Robin van Persie has warned his Manchester United team-mates about, but Louis van Gaal was still his usual uncompromising self as Holland trained on Friday. Van Persie frightened a few in the Old Trafford dressing room this week when he described how Van Gaal would be on their backs every minute during ‘enormously intense’ training sessions. But on the evidence of the final Dutch practice before Saturday nights World Cup warm-up with Ghana, it will be some of his more unorthodox techniques that will unsettle them. Their form hasn’t been great since completing qualification unbeaten with a 2-0 win over Turkey back in October, the subsequent friendlies comprising of draws with Japan, Colombia and Ecuador, and a defeat to France. Van Gaal will cut his 29-man provisional squad - reduced after Rafael van der Vaart pulled out with a calf injury - to 23 on Monday, so the Ghana match is a last chance to impress. He will reshuffle his team, with Van Persie leading a three-pronged attack alongside Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben, and Swansea’s Jonathan De Guzman in midfield. Van Gaal has been here before and not prospered. He was in charge when Ireland beat them to qualification for the 2002 finals and Kuyt believes that failure is his primary motivation. He told De Telegraaf: ‘The disappointment of 2001 has made him stronger. He will do anything to achieve success this time. ‘I think Van Gaal is a very experienced top trainer who knows exactly what is required to perform in Brazil. He knows exactly what he wants and has been a champion in many different countries.’ Read more: dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2643891/Louis-van-Gaal-shows-unorthodox-training-methods-Netherlands-team.html#ixzz33ETVQv15 Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Posted on: Fri, 30 May 2014 20:31:18 +0000
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