Three Champions League finals, including a 1995 win, and a World Cup third-place with Netherlands are the headlines in a glittering career for Louis van Gaal. The Dutch manager is a legend of the game and his words are not taken lightly by players.
To an impressionable 23-year-old compatriot, making his way in football, one-to-one conversations are a special experience. Pascal Struijk, proud to be considered good enough for van Gaal’s World Cup long list, would find one silver lining in his eventual omission.
Asked if he had spoken to the national boss, the Leeds United defender said: “Not before [I was named on the long list], but just before the World Cup he was going to call the people that weren’t in the squad. I spoke to him.”
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Struijk, speaking to the brace of journalists with the team on their winter training camp in Spain, was measured with his words and careful not to overshare. When inevitably pressed on the phone call, he said: “It was interesting, but that’s something I would like to keep between us.”
Born in Belgium, Struijk may have played for Holland’s under-17s, but he was approached by Roberto Martinez with the possibility of playing for his birth nation after first breaking through at Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa. The defender was flattered, but declined with the hope he may one day get that call from Oranje.
Robin Koch, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson are the only outfield players with more minutes than Struijk for Leeds this season. After a debut and inconsistent starting streaks under Bielsa, Struijk has become a bona fide starter for the Whites under Jesse Marsch.
He may not even be playing in his best position, but his form was good enough to make it onto van Gaal’s long list for Qatar. Excitement and anticipation never came into it for the former Ajax man, however.
“I would never get my hopes up too high just because you'd be more excited if you don't think you're going than if you think you are and you're eventually not going, which would be more disappointing,” he said. “I didn't get my hopes too high because he's (van Gaal) never seen me before.
“It's hard [for him] to make a decision, we have so many good centre-backs in Holland right now. It was always going to be difficult, but it is what it is.”
He added: “It is nice to get recognised, to see my name up on the sheet, which was very good in the first place, but eventually you see whoever he picks and I don't know what's going to happen.”
Unsurprisingly, Leeds ensured they landed in Spain with plenty of time to get their feet under the table at their hotel before USA took on Netherlands. Marsch, of course, had his own personal allegiances, but the team as a whole were keen to see Adams and Aaronson continue in the competition.
Struijk and Crysencio Summerville would have been forgiven for conflicted emotions. The former concedes he was backing his American friends, but had to admit he had a moment with Marsch at full-time.
“I kind of had to support both,” he said. “I support Holland, but I also want my team-mates to do well. It’s a tricky one, but when the final whistle went and I looked at Jesse it was pretty funny.”
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