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Afellay: Van Gaal is a very passionate coach
Oct 16, 2012 5:05:00 PM
The Schalke winger has compared the Dutch trainer to his predecessor Bert van Marwijk, whilst he also believes he has unfinished business with Barcelona
Ibrahim Afellay has admitted that Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal is very determined for the team to succeed after recent disappointments at major tournaments.After being left out for the first two World Cup qualifiers, the winger was handed his first appearance under the new coach in the 3-0 win over Andorra on Friday as he replaced Rafael van der Vaart for the final 20 minutes of the routine victory.
And the former PSV star says that Van Gaal is similar to his predecessor Bert van Marwijk in being eager for the 2010 World Cup finalists to succeed where other sides have failed in recent years.
"Van Gaal and Van Marwijk are both demanding, each in their own way," he told the official KNVB website.
"They really work towards a goal and they don't let anything deviate from that. They are both very passionate."
The Schalke attacking midfielder is enjoying his time with the 2011 Champions League semi-finalists, having joined the Bundesliga team on loan for a year, but he states that his ultimate aim is to return to Camp Nou and make more of an impact second time round.
"It is my goal to return to Barcelona. Equally important is to enjoy the game, even more than before because it is not obvious that you are going to be healthy on the field.
"I have developed at Barcelona, both footballing and mentally. I think I have proved that I can handle adversity well."
The 26-year-old suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September 2011 and struggled to recapture a regular place with the Catalan giants, but he dismissed comments that he has failed to deliver on his potential.
"There are people who say that I failed at Barcelona. But for the first six months, as a new player, I pretty much played regularly.
"If you then get a cruciate ligament tear, can you say that you have failed? I think not. Because things are out of your hands. Other people get their chances. That's football," he explained.
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