Roberto Martinez empties his bag on Belgium
The Belgians still have the seum. But unlike the World Cup in Russia where they had not digested being eliminated by France, the Red Devils are enraged this time following their World assess. In Qatar, the Belgian selection experienced very difficult times on the pitch, with elimination in the group stage, as well as outside, since tensions polluted group life and the locker room.. Thus, we learned that an altercation would have taken place between Jan Vertonghen and the duo Kevin De Bruyne-Eden Hazard. However, he denied it. Other elements would not maintain good relations either (Courtois and De Bruyne, Lukaku and Batshuayi in particular).
Martinez talks about World Cup fiasco
The bad atmosphere was therefore present in the locker room. What coach Roberto Martinez had recognized during the tournament. “Yes, there are tensions in the group. It’s natural. The players have been evolving together for a very long time. It’s like in a family. If you don’t have tension or disagreement in a family, it’s because you don’t have emotions.”. Emotions, there were also at the time of the farewell of the Spaniard to the Belgians. After the elimination of the Plat Pays, the former coach of Everton gathered his players for their announce his departure after years of good and loyal service. Several players were moved to tears.
Fifteen days later, Roberto Martinez returned at length to the World Cup during an interview with the SER padlock. And he changed his tune slightly. “The bad atmosphere? It is totally false. It is a very strong and committed group. False information came from a French media which explained that there had been a fight when it was not true. What was amplified after the defeat against Morocco”. Then, he mentioned the poor form of his former players. “When we played the match in Kuwait against Egypt, we realized that we were not prepared. It was just us against Croatia, but it was too late.”.
Even before the start of the World Cup, Roberto Martinez had therefore felt that his troops would not be at the top level. Also questioned by RTBFhe precised : “It was the most painful moment as a national coach. In the previous two major tournaments, we won all the matches in the group stage. In Qatar, we therefore found ourselves in a new situation. In those first two games, we didn’t reach our normal level. In the third game against Croatia, we played well, but the ball didn’t go in.”. He also railed against the calendar.
The thorny Hazard case
“I was convinced of it before and it was quickly confirmed. There was not necessarily time for preparation and preparation matches. Denmark and Germany were quickly eliminated, even Argentina lost their opening match against Saudi Arabia. Tactics weren’t the only thing to play a role in Qatar. Morocco and Argentina took advantage of the warm weather and huge numbers of supporters. They were playing home games.”. Finally, the Iberian technician, who was criticized for his choice, explained himself concerning the fact of having established Eden Hazard during certain meetings. This while the captain of the Red Devils was in the hard club.
“I know how difficult the past two years have been for Eden as a club footballer. He had too much time to think, he was very tough, he was 100% committed, he wants to succeed at his club. It’s not easy because there is always this noise, this doubt of a player who does not play every weekend. For us, there was no debate about whether he should be part of the national team or not.. Until the end, Roberto Martinez therefore supported the Belgian star, who retired from international football. In search of a new challenge on his side, the Spanish coach, therefore, wanted to turn the page once and for all, even if this bad World Cup remains visibly in his throat.