Former Netherlands international Marciano Vink has questioned why Aston Villa forward Anwar El Ghazi is not being given a chance by his country.
The Netherlands confirmed Louis Van Gaal as their new head coach yesterday, having elected to part ways with Frank de Boer earlier this year after their performance at the European Championship
The new Dutch coach has already revealed he has been in touch with potential players about the future direction of the nation, with him confirming he’s spoken to at least five if them about his plans.
That suggests he already has a plan for his team in his head and the players he will be using moving forwards.
Whether Aston Villa star El Ghazi is a part of those plans remains to be seen, with the forward having been ignored by his country since his last appearance in 2015.
That’s despite him playing a key role for Aston Villa in the last few years, starring in their successful Championship campaign and then over the last two seasons in the Premier League.
That’s something Vink can’t work out and believes that Van Gaal should be on the phone to the forward.
“I wonder what Anwar El Ghazi has done. He’s been playing at Aston Villa in the Premier League for years,” Voetbal Zone report him saying.
“He is super fit, and Van Gaal is looking for fit players. You’ve spoken to five players, by your own admission, who prefer to play 4-3-3. Well, then you start looking for outfielders.
“First you look in the Netherlands, what can be found at the top. Then you look at the youth team, which players have shown themselves there.
“You also look at the top players abroad, in the big leagues. I think El Ghazi is still just a Dutchman? I do not understand why he is not called up, and other players in that case are.
“If there is one person who is capable of teaching you what he expects from you in a short time, it is Van Gaal.
“So if you are El Ghazi, I’m just saying, or Berghuis, then Van Gaal is so good that he can make it clear to you in a day and a half, which he has in the run-up to Norway, what he expects from you. I really do think you can play with wingers.”
