Chapter 49: Van Gaal’s Set-Up
When Van Gaal walked out of the players' tunnel, his face was grim.
The Camp Nou, capable of holding over 100,000 people, was alive with color and energy. Flags fluttered in the breeze, and the cheering of more than 90,000 hardcore Barcelona fans filled the air. The stands were dyed in the familiar red and blue of Barcelona's home kit, creating a vibrant atmosphere that seemed to pulse with life. From any angle, it looked like a grand celebration, the weekly ritual of Barcelona fans' fervor!
Every time Van Gaal arrived at Camp Nou to coach a match, he felt a wave of pride. Nearly 100,000 fans cheered for him, and under his leadership, the opposition would crumble, falling to pieces in the face of his tactics...
Even though Barcelona didn't always win against every opponent, the frenzied atmosphere of Camp Nou made Van Gaal feel like he was the king of the world, the best coach alive.
But today, despite the usual electrifying atmosphere of the stadium, Van Gaal couldn't shake off the bad mood he was in.
It wasn't just him; even his assistant, Mourinho, who usually had a gloomy look on his face, looked even more somber than usual.
Van Gaal had only received Mallorca's starting lineup two hours before the match, at the deadline for submitting team sheets. That was when he realized that Mallorca had not held back, sending out their strongest lineup. Several seasoned players, including former Barcelona stalwart Nadal, were starting...
Clearly, he had been outwitted by José, or at least misjudged his intentions. And now, Van Gaal's mood was absolutely foul.
Mourinho, walking behind him, shared the same frustration. He agreed with Van Gaal's assessment, which meant that he, too, had been tricked by José.