SUMMARY
- Wout Weghorst has made a surprising comment on Argentina's World Cup victory last year.
- He has now gone against his own manager to take Lionel Messi's side.
Dutch star Wout Weghorst has made a surprise admission about Lionel Messi a year after the 2022 World Cup ended. Messi and Argentina defeated the Netherlands in the World Cup quarterfinal despite Weghorst’s best efforts. While Messi and Weghorst left Qatar with bad blood between them, the latter has gone against his former manager for Messi.
A few months ago, former Dutch coach Louis van Gaal made a bold claim about Lionel Messi and Argentina’s World Cup victory. Van Gaal claimed that Argentina’s victory was pre-conceived. He further stated several decisions during the matches throughout the tournament went in Argentina’s favor. Van Gaal also raised questions on the five penalties awarded to Argentina.
Wout Weghorst: “Van Gaal’s words about the bias towards Argentina? No, frankly, I don’t agree with Van Gaal. I heard what he said but I don’t see it that way
“We equalized in the tenth minute of stoppage time with a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. If it were the other… pic.twitter.com/zwNfckxA6L
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) December 20, 2023
Wout Weghorst, however, doesn’t believe in Louis van Gaal’s claims. In a recent interview with ESPN, Weghorst stated that he doesn’t think that the World Cup was rigged for Argentina. He said, “Van Gaal’s words about the bias towards Argentina? No, frankly, I don’t agree with Van Gaal. I heard what he said but I don’t see it that way.” The Burnley star also said that during the quarterfinal, some crucial decisions went against the South Americans.
Lastly, Weghorst admitted that Lionel Messi and Argentina were deserving champions. However, it’s interesting to note that despite Weghorst’s beef with Messi, the Dutch forward refuted his former manager’s words. Messi and Weghorst had a fiery exchange of words in the mixed zone after their quarterfinal match. However, the Argentine ace later admitted that he regretted his altercation with Weghorst.
Dutch captain Virgil Van Dijk sided with Lionel Messi against Louis Van Gaal’s claims
Not only did Wout Weghorst go against Louis van Gaal but Virgil Van Dijk has also refuted Van Gaal’s claims. In an interview with the Dutch news agency NOS, Van Dijk, who captained the Netherlands at the World Cup, distanced himself from Van Gaal’s claims that Argentina’s World Cup victory was pre-conceived.
🚨 Virgil Van Dijk to @NOS: “Van Gaal’s words about Messi? He can say what he wants, it’s his opinion, but I do not agree with him and I don’t share the same opinion.”
• So you and the squad don’t stand behind his words?
Van Dijk: “No.” pic.twitter.com/nG7IE39rsE
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) September 5, 2023
The Liverpool defender claimed that while Van Gaal is entitled to his opinions, he doesn’t believe that Argentina won the World Cup unfairly. He further claimed that the entire Dutch squad also hasn’t sided with the former Manchester United manager’s statements. Besides Van Dijk and Weghorts, Dutch goalkeeper Mark Flekken said that while he didn’t feature in the World Cup, he doesn’t believe Van Gaal’s statements are true.