It is a frequently recurring theme in the Facebook Lives: will Roberto Martinez remain trainer of the Red Devils after the European Championship? Olivier Deschacht, recently retired football player, would rather not see him leave. He sees a possible successor in Vincent Kompany.
“Martínez is doing fantastic”, Olivier Deschacht begins his argument. “But if he makes Belgium European Champion, then I think he will leave. His successor? Preud’homme? Vanhaezebrouck? Clement? Or maybe just Kompany. “
“Kompany knows the Red Devils through and through. He has always had authority in that group, even though he was not a trainer. Everyone listened to him. So why couldn’t he do it now?”
Kompany knows the group and already had authority over it as a player. So why not?
“I know Anderlecht privately and hear nothing but positive stories about him. His work there is not yet finished, so if he doesn’t become a national coach yet, he will be one day.”
Deschacht does not see the fact that Thierry Henry has been taken back by the union as a preparation for Henry as T1. “If I may be critical: his past as T1 is not great.” Henry was fired from Monaco, in France, two years ago after just 3 months.
“That’s not to say he doesn’t know anything about football, some fit better with the role of T2 who is closer to the player group.”
Kompany as coach of Anderlecht.
Deschacht opts for experience in defense
Of course, Deschacht would prefer not to see Martínez leave. Deschacht also defended the national coach’s choices to rotate. “It’s a tactic to get everyone excited and it keeps everyone on their toes. Sitting on the bench all the time is bad for your confidence: you don’t feel involved in the tournament.”
One of the decisions that the national coach will have to make is who he has to put centrally next to Vertonghen and Alderweireld. “I opt for experience, so for the three elderly.”
“Vermaelen in the center, flanked by Vertonghen and Alderweireld. They have skill, they are positionally strong and know what to do and, moreover, they occasionally pick up a goal, which is also important.”
I don’t believe a defender can be too old. My best years were between 33 and 35. Experience helps improve your positional play.
“I don’t believe a defender can be too old. My best years were also between my 33rd and 35th. anticipating, knowing when to give way.”
“We are now working on 3 defenders, but in the last games I have often seen the Belgians fold back with 5. That in itself is not bad. If you have a good passer like De Bruyne and a strong striker like Lukaku, then you can you want to play football a bit more expectantly.”
Deschacht as the Red Devil against Spain in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Never a final tournament for Deschacht
Olivier Deschacht made his debut for the Red Devils in 2003 and was good for 20 international matches. Much to his regret, he never attended a major tournament. “I was with the Red Devils in a difficult period. 10 to 15 years of tournament drought and that is very unfortunate, yes. But on the other hand, that black period has been a motivation for the golden generation of today.”
In Villa Sporza are the old soccer jerseys of former football players such as Verheyen and Defour very popular. “I also have a nice collection: Neymar, Mbappé, Maldini, Nesta, Robben,… So if I wanted to, I could also earn a decent amount of money.”
“But they are souvenirs for life. I want to show them to my children later. I am proud to have played against those players. I am most proud of Maldini’s jersey, he has been my biggest idol as a left back. It hangs up alone.”
Watch the conversation with Olivier Deschacht here
