Jan Vertonghen Interview: Talking about his career, Belgium, and his future

The Extra Time program at Canvas had been insisting for months that he be its featured guest and Jan Vertonghen (36) ended up accepting. This Monday evening, on the occasion of the 500th broadcast of the program, he was present in the Puurs refreshment bar, a P3 club in the province of Antwerp. Here are his most interesting answers.

Jan Vertonghen was the guest on Extra Time. ©VRT

His goal against Japan at the 2018 World Cup. “I could say that I wanted to score, but I have to remain credible. So I admit it: my objective was to serve Lukaku or Marouane, who were also in the big rectangle. Finally, the ball fell into the goal and that was the start of our comeback. I had to redeem myself, because I wasn’t blank in Japan’s 0-1. But I didn’t feel like the savior of the country. Nacer and the others saved us, not me.”

Jan versus Toby: “No, I didn’t speak with Alderweireld during the match. On the other hand, I spoke with Vincent Janssen, who is also a good friend. Normally, I like to say things that could destabilize my direct opponent, but I didn’t do that with Vincent. On the other hand, I tested Ilenikhena. We both got a yellow card but he shook my hand afterwards. I respect that. I know that the opposing public doesn’t like it when I provoke a young person, but I try to swing the match in favor of my team.

The goal conceded: “It was painful. We made several mistakes. Leoni should not have attacked his direct opponent and Diawara should have stayed in position. What’s more, he slipped.”

His role as leader: “I find that my speech before kick-off is useless. So I want to give another signal to the group, for example by making a good tackle, giving a good long ball or even making a foul.”

Vertonghen doesn’t just blame Standard fans: “I hope we don’t ban visiting fans”

Sardella’s match: “He was fantastic and he relished the fact that he defended so well. I had to learn to enjoy defending well. The man who taught me this is Thomas Vermaelen. I actually loved playing football too much to be a central defender. I had a mentality to be a box-to-box or an attacking left-back. But I don’t know if I would have had the same career.”

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In the spring of 2023, I decided to stop. But I’m having so much fun, I’ve postponed my decision.”

The Standard video ridiculing Schmeichel: “It’s ugly on the part of Standard. I don’t blame Hoefkens for anything. I say worse things than him. But I would be very angry with our marketing unit if they put this scene on social media. This shows a lack of respect. I remember the season when Mourinho was our coach at Tottenham. We were also filmed everywhere. The microphones at our lunch table were shaped like a pepper mill and a salt shaker. We knew it, but we still had to cut a lot from these recordings.”

“He can’t lie down between his two posts”: when Hoefkens charges Schmeichel at half-time in Anderlecht – Standard

His 153 matches in Diables: “We are not the CPAS: I therefore do not give my place to young people if they are not better than me. It’s still an honor to play for the Devils and I hope to play as much as possible at the Euros. I know we make fun of it sometimes, but it doesn’t matter. I had a good interview with Tedesco at the start of his reign. During our first interview, I entered a room in Tubize and Vercauteren was the only one there. For a few seconds, I feared he would tell me it was over for me. But it went very well.”

The Courtois affair: “Yes, I contacted him, but I am not going to say what was said. I don’t know if he’s going to apologize. He is the best goalkeeper in the world but he is also a very proud person.”

Thibaut Courtois would have decided not to join the Devils at Euro 2024: a Spanish journalist says it!

Stop or even: “During the spring of this year, I injured my ankle and I decided to stop at the end of the 2023-2024 season. Even after the summer, I still had pain. But now I’m having so much fun, I’m postponing my decision until the spring of 2024.”

His future: “I took a coaching course because we had the opportunity. I said to myself: you never know. But no, I will not be a coach after my career.”

2023-12-18 22:16:00
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