Chapter 52: Full-Scale Defense
Van Gaal was indeed very angry.
Being one goal down at home wasn't a big deal; after all, there were still forty-five minutes in the second half to chase the game. What made him angry wasn't just being tricked by José earlier but also the way Rivaldo had wasted numerous opportunities in the first half. Despite being given full freedom and a more attacking role, Rivaldo failed to organize the team's offense and instead restricted Ronald de Boer's movement in midfield, weakening Barcelona's attacking power.
However, after some thought, Van Gaal decided to forgive Rivaldo. After all, Rivaldo was Barcelona's star player, and merely placing him on the left wing couldn't bring out his full potential.
Van Gaal also realized that Dani's poor performance on the right wing had been a mistake. Dani had proven his quality as a forward with seven goals in ten games last season, and wasting such a forward on the bench was a real shame. Barcelona fans had been vocal in their support of him, and Van Gaal, coaching at a membership-based club, knew that fan support was just as important as the president's.
Yet, Van Gaal couldn't afford to let Dani replace Kluivert. Not only was Kluivert his trusted player, but his role in the 4-3-3 formation was also critical. The central striker not only scored goals but also assisted the wingers. Rivaldo had become Barcelona's top scorer thanks to Kluivert's contributions.
Thus, Van Gaal found himself in a dilemma. Both forwards were talented, but there was only one central striker position in his tactical setup. Playing both of them together would either weaken the overall attacking play or disrupt the long-established 4-3-3 system. For Van Gaal, this was unacceptable.
He had considered switching to a two-striker system with Rivaldo and Figo playing on the wings and a false No. 10, but this idea challenged his established tactics, something he wasn't willing to experiment with, especially in such an important match. If Barcelona lost, they'd fall five points behind Deportivo La Coruña, and their title hopes could be dashed.
After rejecting Mourinho's suggestion to replace Ronald de Boer with Figo and switch to a 4-4-2, Van Gaal made his decision.
"Dani out, Luis in."