The Dutchman did not hesitate to substitute his outstanding countryman only minutes after he had scored the winning goal in their 1-0 victory over Olympique Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.
The winger, who only seconds earlier had come agonisingly close to another goal, looked irritated and the 66,000 fans were bewildered as he walked off the pitch in the 85th minute. Van Gaal on the other hand knew exactly what he was doing.
"In three days we play Borussia Moenchengladbach (in the league) and I have to make sure that we go there with all our players fit," Van Gaal told reporters after the game.
"So now we have won here, we did not concede a goal and we will go to Gladbach with Robben fit, (Ivica) Olic fit and all my players fit," added the Dutchman, who won the Champions League in 1995 with Ajax Amsterdam.
"That was European Cup at its best," glowed club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. "We played a fantastic second half and will now travel to Lyon (next week) full of hope."
"I hope that for Bayern and himself he will be banned for only one game," said Van Gaal, with one eye already firmly set on the Champions League final in Madrid on May 22.
