Gio Van Bronckhorst admits Liverpool hero Dirk Kuyt recounted stories about his time under the coach at Feyenoord that 'really didn't happen.'
The former Rangers boss was the subject of what he described as a 'commotion' upon learning the former Netherlands international had written extensively about his time at the Eredivisie side when Van Bronckhorst was manager. The former Liverpool star found the bench on occasion under the ex-Ibrox boss during the 2016-17 season in which Van Bronckhorst won the title at the club.
The 48-year-old, however, has hit back at some of the claims made by Kuyt in the book as he slammed the former attacker for detailing things that should have 'never made it to the media'. Van Bronckhorst was given his marching orders by Rangers last year after just over a year in charge at Ibrox and replaced by Michael Beale.
And he was quizzed on the content of Kuyt's 2018 release 'The Faith in Success' book ahead of Feyenoord's potential title success in which one incident is written about when the Dutch players claims he wanted to give a half-time pep talk, and was supported by some members of staff, but that Van Bronckhorst wanted to speak instead.
He told De Telegraaf: “I never really understood it. It was his choice to bring it that way, but it did have consequences. I'm just sorry.
"There are things in his book that really didn't happen.
"Do you think that nothing more happened in that championship year? Of course they did, but those cases never made it to the media. That's the way it is supposed to be. You experience things together and you succeed together.”
He added: “It was not easy for Dirk at that time. But they were choices that had to be made. I had to deal with the team and other players, who were also very decisive for the team. Jens (Toornstra, ed.) had a major role that season, who scored crucial goals against FC Utrecht and Groningen.
"I rotated with Dirk, Jens and Steven Berghuis on the right side or behind the striker. It made us unpredictable.
"It caused commotion. Of course we had a history together. And Dirk's status, due to his past at Liverpool and the Orange, played a role. It was Dirk's last game in his career. He scored three times and we became champions. It was a wonderful conclusion for him personally and for the team.
"Everyone had their influence on competitions. Dirk, but also Michiel Kramer at Utrecht, Karim at ADO, Eric at Twente, Steven at PEC Zwolle. It was never about one person.”
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