“Van Gaal Did It With Intention” – Angry Lionel Messi Opens Up on Controversy With Netherlands During World Cup

Argentina vs Netherlands is no doubt one of the most memorable matches from the 2022 World Cup. The tensions in the field were at an all-time high, and even Lionel Messi, known for his humble demeanor, got caught up in the heat of the moment. Almost a year later, the Argentine maestro has decided to open up about the controversies surrounding that match.

The quarter-final encounter between Argentina and the Netherlands holds the record for the match with the most yellow cards (18) ever given in a World Cup game. Messi, in particular, found himself embroiled in altercations with the Netherlands manager, Louis Van Gaal, and their striker, Wout Weghorst. However, there was a reason for Messi’s angry reaction that day.

Lionel Messi dives into the reasoning behind his outrage!

In an interview, Lionel Messi discussed the controversial match and revealed some backstory about the events leading up to his gestures on the field. He clearly pointed out Van Gaal’s off-court remarks as a vital factor that provoked him.

The 36-year-old stated, “The situation with the Netherlands was somewhat similar to what happened with Lewandowski. It bothers me when people engage in off-field talk and disrespect their opponents.” Elaborating further, Lionel Messi emphasized, “I did not intentionally try to anger Van Gaal before the game, nor did I disrespect him. I have never done that, and I do not appreciate it when others do it to me.”

Continuing his reasoning, the 8x Ballon d’Or winner further added, “I believe Van Gaal intentionally provoked me, and their goalkeeper also made some remarks before the match. I find these actions unacceptable, and it significantly affected my mindset going into the game.”

It is evident that the soccer icon was particularly disappointed with the off-court actions and firmly believes that matters on the field should stay on the field. In addition to Lionel Messi’s comments, Louis Van Gaal has also expressed dissatisfaction with the controversial match.

Louis Van Gaal made ‘rigged’ comments about Argentina’s win

In a surprising statement, he even suggested that Argentina’s World Cup win was orchestrated. During a previous interview, Van Gaal swiped at Lionel Messi and Argentina, remarking, “I don’t really want to say much about it. If you see how Argentina gets the goals and how we get the goals and how some of Argentina’s players crossed the line and weren’t punished, then I think it’s all preconceived game,” 

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This provocative statement certainly raises eyebrows and highlights the Dutch manager’s lack of admiration for La Pulga. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.

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