Our previous three national coaches had not yet held their pen properly, or the name Axel Witsel was already on the match sheet. Georges Leekens, Marc Wilmots and Roberto Martinez were fans of the midfielder. What made him so indispensable to the Red Devils? A combination of intelligence, leadership and “his soft character”, according to Leekens.
Under Georges Leekens, his name became a certainty in the starting eleven from 2010.
“With melancholy”, the former national coach of the Red Devils looks at the farewell of Axel Witsel. “He was a fantastic guy for the group and for any coach.”
“He was very intelligent and always chose the right position. Whether it was number 10 under me or number 6 under Marc Wilmots, he didn’t care. As a coach, a huge gift.”
“Really someone you could count on on and off the field. A supporting player. He never stood out, also thanks to his soft character.”
Witsel himself took a step back so that others could take one forward.
More recognition for the footballer and person Witsel is what the former T1 hopes for.
“Actually, we should say with the whole of Belgium: “Thank you, Axel.” We may have done that too little. He has given an enormous amount to Belgian football. In recent years, his negative points have been hammered too often and too little on his qualities.”
Enormous willpower, intelligence, leadership. Trumps that everyone now knows from the midfielder. Although Leekens thinks his altruism is Witsel’s great strength.
“He gave boys confidence to help them move forward. He took a step back himself so others could take one forward. He never boasted about that. He just offered a helping hand.”
10 years more chouchou
“What Sergio Busquets does for Barcelona, Axel can also do for Belgium.”
It soon became clear in which drawer Marc Wilmots had put the Belgian midfielder when he took over. Not only the predecessor was sold, the national coaches after Georges Leekens were also crazy about the curly head.
From his debut as national coach – a draw against Montenegro in 2012 – he therefore resolutely opted for Witsel in the starting eleven.
The fact that he would hardly disappear there for the next 10 years caused misunderstanding among some of the supporters. But for Belgium’s T1 there was never any doubt.
Witsel was unmissable.
Witsel is the missing puzzle piece in a strong team.
A choice for certainty that will strengthen the Spanish choice lord Roberto Martinez even more from 2016.
“Axel Witsel is one of the absolute pillars, someone you can build all your talent on. He is the player we all want to be.”
“Every trainer loves him, because he brings balance to the team. In a strong team, he is the missing puzzle piece. Someone whose talent is sometimes underexposed,” he recently praised Marca.
The mainstay became superfluous, Domenico Tedesco judged. With his choice he also brought certainty: Axel Witsel will never wear a devil red shirt again.
2023-05-13 06:12:00
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