Two years ago, Louis Van Gaalformer coach of the national team Netherlands At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he revealed that he suffers from prostate cancer. During this time, the historic DT knew how to talk about the disease and spread an awareness message about it, but he had never expressed himself as he just did in “Always positive”, a documentary released this Wednesday in Europe, and which seeks to support research oncology.
“When I heard that I had cancer for the first time I said: ‘Ok, it’s not good news, but I better try to do something to solve it.’ Every human can react in a different way,” said Van Gaal, who confessed that he went through these last three years “with catheters and urine bags.
The former Dutch coach, 72, faced the treatment while also coping with his activity at the head of his country’s national team, a job that led him to face the Argentine National Team in Qatar, where he experienced an intense rivalry with the team led by Lionel Messi. , in a quarterfinal matchup that will be talked about for a long time.
“I even think that during the World Cup I managed it even better, because I had a goal. And with the cancer process it happens the same as with the process of being a coach, you look for a goal. For me it was positive to deal with both things“explained Lucho, who left his position after the World Cup elimination.
In addition, he confessed that after living with the disease for three years, he went through “radiation, hormone injections, operations, with catheters and urine bags. It’s something incredible, but I can handle it,” he said crudely.
In the documentary he also confessed that he has dealt with death since he was very young. “I come from a family in which we are nine brothers. I am the youngest. My father died when I was 11 years old. He died when he was 53. On the other hand, my first wife died when he was 39. And all my brothers died too soon. I’m used to death.”
Its objective, together with the National Center for Oncological Research (CNIO), based in Madrid, is to be able to promote oncological research to treat all types of cancer. María Blasco is its director, and she was in charge of the documentary that revolves around Van Gaal’s experience.
“Now I am doing this for María Blasco and the research she has to do, because she likes to be better and better and cure more cancers. There are many types, too many,” lamented the former Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayer Munich strategist.
