Netherlands coach Van Gaal hugs reporter at World Cup

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal was taken unexpectedly at a World Cup information convention Thursday when a Senegalese reporter informed the Dutchman he was a longtime admirer.“I don’t have any query for you. It’s simply a possibility to let you know I’m a fan since 3 years previous,” Papa Mahmoud Gueye stated. “I really like you.”The 71-year-old Van Gaal, generally considered as a stern-faced, taciturn and stubborn determine in soccer, broke into an enormous smile earlier than responding.“I’m going to offer you an enormous hug after this, as a result of I like that you just say this and I imply that significantly,” Van Gaal stated via an interpreter. “As a result of individuals don’t usually say this to me. So we’ll give one another an enormous hug afterward.”Van Gaal saved his phrase, transferring down from the stage and beckoning the reporter together with his hand to hitch him in a heat embrace.The 28-year-old Gueye works for Senegalese publication Taggat.sn.Gueye informed The Related Press it was an honor to share such a touching second with Van Gaal, a storied and extremely progressive coach who has led groups like Ajax, Barcelona and Manchester United.“He’s one of many biggest figures in soccer,” Gueye stated. “He was additionally completely happy to see that there are individuals who love him, and he stated to me ‘Let’s give one another a hug.’”Gueye stated Van Gaal has earned an unfair repute through the years as being grumpy.“That’s probably not the case. From a distance individuals usually assume that’s he’s not cool,” Gueye stated. “However he’s a smiley character and he laughs with everybody. And he’s top-of-the-line coaches on the earth.”The Netherlands beat Senegal 2-0 on Monday.___