Netherlands national football team coach Louis van Gaal spoke about his treatment journey to recover from prostate cancer, and he expected to receive good news in the coming period.
The former Manchester United and Barcelona coach revealed earlier this April that he had cancer on a Dutch television programme.
Van Gaal revealed that he had been suffering from cancer since 2020, and that he underwent treatment sessions before signing a contract to coach the Netherlands national team last August, and then underwent surgery last February.
"I've been through everything. I've had 25 radiotherapy sessions," the 70-year-old told the Dutch news agency.
He indicated that he had to wait 5 or 6 months to see if these sessions worked.
He added that after the operation, "things should improve. It is only a matter of time."
The announcement of Van Gaal's illness aroused great sympathy in the world of football, and the Dutch coach said, "I never thought it would have such an impact in the world. The reactions were amazing, thankful for those feelings, I draw energy from the attention I get from people."
Van Gaal, who is spending his third spell with the Netherlands national team, is scheduled to lead the team in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Netherlands plays in Group A in the 2022 World Cup alongside Qatar, the host country, Senegal and Ecuador, and will play its first match against Senegal at Al Thumama Stadium on November 21.
Koeman succeeds Van Gaal
The Dutch Football Association announced earlier that Ronald Koeman will succeed Van Gaal after the World Cup in Qatar.
Koeman helped the Netherlands qualify for the Euro 2020 finals, and with the national team reached the Nations League final before losing 1-0 to Portugal.
Koeman left the Dutch national team for what he called his "dream job" in Barcelona in August 2020, before he was dismissed from his position at the Catalan club in October last year.
"I am looking forward to a new chapter of cooperation with the KNVB. More than a year and a half ago I did not leave the Dutch national team due to disagreements. I had a good period, results and a good relationship with the players. We will resume this cooperation soon," Koeman told the KNVB website.
Marianne van Leven, an official in the Dutch Football Association, said that the association was keen to quickly secure the team's future after the World Cup to provide a clear vision for the players and fans of the national team.
"We are very happy to have Ronald back next year. During his previous tenure as national coach, we were very satisfied with his work and the results," she added.