Netherlands Coach, Louis van Gaal conducted his team’s training session using a golf cart after he suffered a hip injury from cycling during the Netherlands’ national team camp.
The veteran Manager, 70, was cycling near the Oranje team hotel on Sunday when he fell, and was taken to hospital for tests.
The injury has forced him into a wheelchair and van Gaal who is unable to attend to media duties ahead of the crunch World Cup qualification against Norway, insist he will be able to take charge of the match in Rotterdam.
“Physically I’m not good, but the brain is still working,” van Gaal said via video link. “I’m in a lot of pain, that’s why I was in a buggy during training.
“I can still do everything and have done all the preparation that I normally would have.”
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk, who did appear at the press conference, said the incident was “definitely a shock.”
“We are happy that he can lead us and it hasn’t impacted much in terms of the preparation. This morning he chaired an important meeting and still guides us. Van Gaal is still keen to make it to the World Cup,” he said.
Van Gaal said that he would be on the bench on Tuesday and expected the Dutch to win the game and secure top spot in their group.
They could have qualified last Saturday at Montenegro but gave up two late goals and were held 2-2 in a surprise result.
When van Gaal was coach of AZ Alkmaar 2007, he broke a fibula and an ankle and was forced to coach several training sessions from the seat of a golf cart.
