Virgil van Dijk has admitted he thinks his Netherlands side are playing the wrong formation under Louis van Gaal even though his national team toppled Denmark 4-2 on Saturday.
The Liverpool star was deployed in the middle of a back three as Van Gaal played a 3-4-1-2 system against the Danes, but Van Dijk was not all smiles come full-time. The win ensures Van Gaal’s unbeaten start to life as manager in his third stint continues, with the former Manchester United boss overseeing six wins in eight matches.
Van Gaal has also managed the Oranje from 2000 to 2001 and again in 2012 to 2014, where he guided the Netherland to a third-placed finish in the Brazil World Cup and will get the opportunity to take charge of his country on the world’s biggest stage once again in Qatar this year.
The game against the Danes also marked an emotional return for Christian Eriksen, who notched a goal within two minutes of his first Denmark game since he suffered an on-pitch cardiac arrest during Euro 2020.
Though Van Dijk conceded the game presented plenty of positives for his team, he said he feels improvements could be made and declared his preference for a 4-3-3 formation.
“Until today we have been training hard, with lots of tactics and meetings. There are good times but also things to improve,” the 30-year-old told NOS, via footmercato. “We will analyse this. 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.
“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.” Van Dijk’s comments did not go unnoticed by his managet, who responded soon during his own post-match media duties.
“I know he has that preference, he always said this publicly. We already had this debate when I came here. The manager decides the tactics,” Van Gaal hit back.
A stern test awaits the Netherlands in the form of Hansi Flick’s Germany side on Tuesday, before attentions turn to the Nations League in the summer. As Van Gaal’s side have been drawn in the same group as Belgium, Wales and Poland.
