China could learn from Dutch football, says Van Gaal(3)

In addition, special knowledge sharing sessions will be organized on the match day, June 11. During the meetings representatives of both countries will talk about development, scouting, coaching, refereeing and management.

"Personally I will not attend these sessions, but I will be giving a clinic," said Van Gaal. "We have a department, World Coaches, which is also used to transfer knowledge of how we do it in the Netherlands. And we will transfer that to the coaches in China. Then we can tell about a good infrastructure and how to make China develop in football."

The sharing of knowledge puts the trip in a different perspective. Last year Van Gaal said that the trip to Asia was partly arranged for financial reasons, with media emphasizing on this financial part.

"In the first place, the trip is, of course, always a sportive consideration, but I could mention other motives as well," Van Gaal explained.

"We go there and we get the chance to play in Indonesia and China, also because the climatic conditions are about the same as in Brazil. And if we go there one year before the World Cup, I can observe the players how they handle the circumstances. And also how they interact. That is all very good for a coach to know. Because at the World Cup we may have to play in similar circumstances next year. Certainly in many parts of Brazil it is hot and there is high humidity. On this trip we will play against the national team of Indonesia and the national team of China. China is ranked higher on the world ranking than Indonesia. So for us, China is an important game. And then I can see how the regular internationals relate with the new internationals, because I have four debutants included. Who have the required level? That is an important point."

"The other important point is that we have to make a long journey for a game of football," Van Gaal concluded. "You have to be paid for that. But we also need money to finance our youth academy. We also go for that reason. We will be accompanied by companies who want to sell their products in China. So it is also economically important for our country the Netherlands. I do not think that is wrong."