Louis van Gaal has stuck his neck out on the line by predicting Netherlands will reach the final of the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.
Netherlands have reached the knockout stages after finishing top of Group A. Van Gaal's side defeated both Senegal and Qatar 2-0 to progress. The take on USA at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday for a place in the quarter-finals.
It's not the first time Van Gaal has made a prediction during the World Cup. The former Manchester United manager did so ahead of his team's group game against Ecuador, when he said "I think we will win". The fixture resulted in an uninspiring 1-1 draw.
Van Gaal's latest prediction came after he was criticised by a journalist for his team's conservative displays. The Netherlands boss refused to take the handbrake off against Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar - scoring five goals and conceding just once.
The reporter in question said watching Van Gaal's team was like "grinding teeth". The Dutch manager replied: "I think you have a different perspective to me, why don’t you write down it’s terribly boring. If you think it’s boring why don’t you go home."
Van Gaal added: "Well that’s disappointing I think but I don’t agree with you, I think everyone would be rather proud we’re progressing to the next round and I think people know why you’re asking these questions. I don’t think things are as bad as you say.''
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The reporter then told Van Gaal they are staying until the final, to which Van Gaal replied: "Well, then you will see us."
Van Gaal is under pressure to deliver long-awaited success to the Netherlands. The Dutch are one of the great footballing nations and have produced some of the best players of all time - including Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten and Arjen Robben.
Yet they have won just one major honour in men's football - Euro '88. They are three-time World Cup runners-up - suffering defeats to West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978 and Spain in 2010 - and lost the inaugural Nations League final to Portugal in 2019.
Although Van Gaal provided a witty response to the critical reporter, he did play down the Netherlands' chances at the weekend. He said: "I never said we will win the World Cup, I always said we can win the World Cup. And the players are convinced of this too."
Van Gaal, now 71, is regarded as one of the greatest managers in history and has coached the Netherlands twice before. He masterminded their third-placed finish at the 2014 World Cup, although he was also in charge when they failed to qualify in 2002.
Away from the national side, Van Gaal has won trophies in four different countries and seven league titles. He was in charge of Dutch giants Ajax when they won their most recent Champions League crown during the 1994/95 campaign.
