China could learn from Dutch football, says Van Gaal(2)

The Chinese so far only qualified for the 2002 World Cup and are already eliminated for the next tournament in 2014, while the Netherlands are on top of their European qualifying group and almost sure of a ticket to Brazil.

With this long tradition as one of the big footballing nations in the world, Van Gaal thinks the Chinese can learn lessons from the Dutch.

"The most important thing is perhaps our tactical ability," he said. "I think the Netherlands is leading in the world on a tactical level. It's the training and the coaches that we have.

"We have a good youth development system and I think we can also transfer that to China. Regarding China's infrastructure and the training of coaches and players, China can certainly learn that from us."

With Jan Olde Riekerink the Chinese football association already employs a Dutchman as coach of China Under-20.

"I know him very well", said Van Gaal. "I even played with him at the Rotterdam based club Sparta. But I also know him as head of youth at Ajax. He has extensive experience in the field of educating children. He also knows what a good infrastructure looks like. In principle, that is a pyramid structure. That's what you should form, from the grassroots to the elite level. Then you automatically get a good development in which the best play against the best.

"This is difficult in China because it is a very big country. Yet, you should have to try to achieve the best always playing against the best. But you cannot just copy the Dutch system. You should always look at the culture of the country. After doing this, you choose your solutions. You have to be there to talk with expertise."

Next week Van Gaal will be in China to coach the Dutch team and maybe also share some of his knowledge. At least the Dutch football association KNVB will do so. On June 9 the Dutch coach will give a clinic with his assistants Danny Blind, Patrick Kluivert and Frans Hoek, together with Dutch legend Ruud Gullit, to Chinese kids in the Olympic football stadium in Beijing.