Van Gaal wants more from Rooney

By Simon Austin

Van Gaal won the European Cup with Ajax in 1995

Former Holland coach Louis van Gaal says Wayne Rooney cannot yet be considered a world-class player.

Van Gaal believes Rooney and England can learn from Holland during their friendly in Amsterdam on Wednesday.

"I think tactically English players can learn from Dutch players," the AZ Alkmaar boss told BBC Sport.

"Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are among the best players in the world (but) Rooney still has a lot to prove internationally."

Van Gaal, who managed Holland from 2000 to 2002, admits he was disappointed with England during the World Cup.

"England could have played in a more offensive and creative way with the players they had at the World Cup - they were a bit disappointing," he said.

I think Mourinho is a good manager who is always there to protect his players, which is an honourable value Louis van Gaal

"However, only the coaches of Germany and Argentina succeeded in working out their own vision on the pitch."

The 55-year-old says Marco van Basten - who has been Holland coach for two-and-a-half years - has also failed to deliver the attacking football he had promised.

"Holland are doing okay in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, but I have not seen the dominant, attacking and creative football which has been promised by the coaches," he said.

And, although he thinks Holland's players are more tactically adept than England's, Van Gaal says Steve McClaren's men are "a step ahead" of their counterparts mentally.

606 DEBATE: Do you agree with Van Gaal?

Holland are currently two points clear at the top of Euro 2008 qualifying Group G. Van Gaal says they will use the high-profile friendly against England to blood new players.

"From what I understand, Marco van Basten will use the game against England to try new players," he said.

Van Gaal won two Spanish league titles when he was manager of Barcelona from 1997 to 2000.

His assistant coach during this time was current Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

And Van Gaal has defended his old charge following a series of recent controversies involving referees and even the medical provision given to keeper Petr Cech when he was injured at Reading.

"I think he is a good manager who is always there to protect his players, which is an honourable value in my opinion," Van Gaal said.

"The media are everywhere the same, we (managers) have different views and want different things.

"They look for stories, whereas we look to provide quietness around our clubs and teams."