The 100th episode of our podcast De Tribune deserved fireworks and that’s what Filip Joos and Wim De Coninck took care of. For example, a story about England captain Jordan Henderson exploded into an analysis about the importance of Axel Witsel in midfield with the Red Devils.
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“Too much attention for Axel Witsel”
Despite a serious injury, national coach Roberto Martinez included Axel Witsel in his selection of 26 players. That was a defensible choice given the three extra players that each country is allowed to bring, but Filip Joos does not understand that it continues to be about Witsel before he is fit.
“I am amazed at the way the national coach communicates about Axel Witsel,” said Joos. “I think too much attention is given to him. As a coach I wouldn’t do it to make an absentee so important.”
“Leander Dendoncker is going to play the first two matches, isn’t it? How must that boy feel? I thought Dendoncker played really well against Croatia. I don’t think it’s good to say that Witsel will be in the team for the match.” three. Wait with that.”
How should Dendoncker feel? I thought he played really well against Croatia.
“I read that Martinez compared Witsel with Ngolo Kante. Then we are off the track, aren’t we? If you miss Kante, then as a national coach you can say that you really miss someone. But even then Didier Deschamps would not do that.”
“The situation around Eden Hazard is just the same. Yannick Ferreira Carrasco’s best position is Eden Hazard’s position. I carry Hazard in my heart because he gave me great football moments, but at the moment Hazard doesn’t have it yet. Coming in against Croatia was all he is not. In summary: just bad.”
“How to deal with Witsel and Hazard is a real dilemma. I understand it somewhere given their past and the fact that they are also really good at 85 percent. But if this passes, then the Red Devils have a really good group. On top of that, if Hazard starts, his brother Thorgan won’t start.”
“The vista of Tielemans, which made Lukaku excel”
Filip Joos compares the situation of Hazard and Witsel with that of Sergio Ramos at Spain. Ramos is the captain and icon of La Roja, but was still left at home because he barely played in 2021 due to injuries.
“Leaving Hazard and Witsel at home is an option that was defensible. I understand that Roberto Martinez is not doing it. A year ago you would have declared someone crazy who said to leave those two at home, but after what happened this season…”
“Luis Enrique (Spain national coach) had left them at home. It’s a diabolical dilemma.”
Every time Lukaku could get the ball, he got the ball from Tielemans. You have to do that with Lukaku, keep him in the game.
“I think that we make Witsel too indispensable. At Dendoncker I see a kind of American Football. He storms and continues to chase and so Tielemans comes lower on the field, but free on the ball.”
“What I think is the only shortcoming in Witsel’s game is his long vista. He is a master in short tapping and wide playing, and that is sometimes necessary. But Tielemans kicked a few long balls and Lukaku was also able to excel. ”
“Every time Lukaku could get the ball, he got the ball from Tielemans. You have to do that with Lukaku, keep him in the match. Antonio Conte also did that with Lukaku at Inter.”
“The Lukaku of the World Cup semi-final against France languished. He was in a cage and there was no ball.”
“Again, if Witsel is fit, I would also put him on. But the world top players in our team are Courtois, Hazard, De Bruyne and Lukaku. Witsel does not have that level. He is at the level of Jan Vertonghen. A fantastic football player.”
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