Coach of Belgium, Roberto Martinez’ interview gave a never before seen insight of his relationship with players. Here is part of the 3 episode interview series.
Today it has six great players who have exceeded 100 international calls: Vertonghen, Witsel, Alderweireld, Hazard, Mertens and Lukaku. What are the advantages of having so much experience within the group?
Is essential. When I took charge of the national team six years ago, there was a real objective: to create a solid base of players capable of marking Belgian football. There are the six you mentioned, and two more about to surpass that mark [Thibault Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne]. We are talking about a group of players devoted to the national team, who play at the highest level and who have the chance to help youngsters progress. And that is essential. We need to be able to savor this generation, learn from it and make it a benchmark for future generations. It’s a very nice message to convey from these dedicated players.
Romelu Lukaku is Belgium’s all-time leading scorer. How important is he to the team?
I had the opportunity to work with Romelu at club level [with Everton] and I know he is obsessed with his performance, with his desire to constantly improve, and he loves to score goals. Romelu has always been that player who can turn a good performance into a good result thanks to his definition. He wields enormous influence and has the respect of the group due to his total dedication.
The Adidas Golden Boot was first awarded to the tournament’s top scorer in 1982. Runners-up are awarded the Adidas Silver Boot and Adidas Bronze Boot respectively.
He plays little with Real Madrid, but is essential with Belgium. What role will your captain, Eden Hazard, play in Qatar?
If you look at the last World Cup, in 2018, you will see the impact Hazard had and how he made a difference. His career in club football has not been easy in the last two and a half years, with a new project, a new club and injuries. They are things that happen. We fully trust what he can contribute to our team as captain of the national team. We are looking forward to the World Cup so that he can show what he is capable of.
