Van Dijk makes touching WC promise to Van Gaal after ‘shock’ of cancer diagnosis

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said that he wants to give coach Louis van Gaal, who is battling aggressive prostate cancer, "a World Cup to never forget" in Qatar later this year.

Van Dijk said he was in shock after hearing the interview in which the veteran manager stated that he often left the national team at night to go to the hospital without the players finding out until now.

Van Dijk said, "I messaged him after the interview. It definitely says a lot about him. I said to him as well, he's probably not that type of guy that needs a lot of sympathy, that's how he is."

"But I told him that we are definitely going to be there for him as a group whenever he needs it, and hopefully we can also make it a World Cup for him to never forget."

Netherlands boss Van Gaal revealed that he has an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

The 70-year-old made the announcement on Dutch TV show Humberto on Sunday. The coach said he has had radiation treatment 25 times so far.