Pocognoli, who worked under Van Gaal at AZ Alkmaar and won the Eredivisie title in 2009, said the Dutchman’s approach to young players remains a daily inspiration.
“I take a lot from all my gaffers, but probably he was the one with the most experience,” Pocognoli told BBC Scotland. “I was very young and you know in that moment he had all the Barcelona young players between his hands, also Ajax players.
“The way that he treats the young players in a direct way, honest way and hard way was for me really inspiring in my daily job now.”
Pocognoli took over from Steve Clarke and has overseen five games so far, winning two against North Macedonia, drawing in Slovenia and losing twice. The team is still adjusting to a back three and has struggled in front of goal.
“Everything in life takes time to build if you want to achieve something,” he said. “We know that in the performance world everything goes faster and quicker, but we have an objective and we know that we have to go through the up and down and the good moments. At the end I hope that all this experience can make us stronger.”
Scotland face Switzerland in St Gallen on Monday needing a win and favourable results from Slovenia’s match to have any chance of finishing in the top two of their Nations League group. It seems progression to the next Euros will instead roll on to next year’s qualifying campaign.
“We don’t have the control of what will happen because Slovenia will decide,” Pocognoli said. “But if we want to have a chance to go through to the group stage and to go to the play-offs we have to go with the bravery and try to play with courage and try to force something.”