A few hours after their victory against Turkey and on the sidelines of their trip to Scotland, the “Complément Foot” team welcomed two Imps: LOSC defensive midfielder Amadou Onana and Antwerp striker Michel- Angel Balikwisha. Back with them on the flourishing U21 qualification campaign for Euro 2023 but also on their future ambitions.
How do you feel about this group of Imps?
Amadou Onana : “It was seen against Turkey, we have a very homogeneous team. Guys who get along well on and off the pitch. And I think it can be felt, we are quite united on the ground. We try to help each other in all circumstances. Personally, we also take great pleasure in being in the field together..”
“As soon as we find ourselves in the national team, we are all happy to see each other again “, continues Michel-Ange Balikwisha. “In training, it’s the same thing. We want to have fun and live moments like that. We want to try to do the same thing in the next game so that we can respect us.”
For their next qualifying match, the Imps will travel to Scotland on Tuesday. You are not going to calculate, you will go there to win as always?
Amadou : “I don’t think we will do any calculations until the end. It’s really the mentality we’re in. Go get as many points as possible to ensure qualification as soon as possible. We have to play the matches as they come and we’ll see at the end. “
You who are already holders or almost in your clubs, what does it mean to you to play in the U21 national team?
Amadou : “I think you can learn at any stage. The level in which we play at the international level is the best in U21. It’s about competing against the best in the same age category. So there are things to learn. […] The fact that there is a Charles De Ketelaere or an Arthur Theate really proves that the U21s are a bit the anti-chamber of the A. It shows that we are not far and that we are on The good way. It is a stimulus.“
“And for us it’s really a reward for what we do with our team “, complete Michelangelo. “If we perform, the coach of the national team rewards us and it’s up to us to perform here too and show our qualities to the whole world.“
Next objective: the Red Devils?
Are you already thinking of the World Cup in Qatar or rather the Euro with the Hopes?
Michelangelo: “Frankly, I’m based on the Euro. After that, I wait for my moment like at Standard. I’m not someone in a hurry. When my moment arrives, that’s where I will have to show who I am. So , I stay focused and if they call me in Qatar, I will go and I will show who I am. If they call me it is not for nothing, it is because we saw something in me. “
At this point, are you thinking of any transfer destinations where you tell yourself you would put more pressure on the Red Devils?
Michelangelo: “Not really. It is especially me who still have to improve certain things to be a little more decisive and selfish at times. And maybe when I improve that, coach Martinez will tell himself that this player is ready because he has improved, that he saw the negative points he had. A lot of players like Carrasco, Thorgan Hazard, have a bit of the same profile as me. They are more selfish at times, which I don’t have yet. By the time I do, I think I’ll be ready. “
Amadou reacts to this question he who changed club this year. “Last season I was in Hamburg, a division 2 club, where maybe there isn’t that visibility that I have now. With all due respect for Hamburg, it’s the club which gave me the opportunity to shine at the professional level. I think playing for a club like Lille, champion of Ligue 1, which plays in the Champions League, is a positive point. “
You share the same room, which of the two is the quieter and which is the most disruptive?
Michelangelo : “Sometimes we have the same delusions. When you put on the music, you totally blow up the whole hallway. And at times, it’s Amadou who is a little more tired. So me, I play the Play, I disturb him a little.“
Amadou : “Me it is more the reason. Sometimes I try to reason with him, to appease him a little because he is sometimes a little too agitated. I think we complement each other quite well. It’s nice to share my room with him.“
