Six months after the Belgian World Cup debacle in Qatar, Romelu Lukaku and Axel Witsel have criticised former national coach Roberto Martínez, who is now employed by the Portuguese national association.
Witsel and Lukaku critical of Martínez after World Cup debacle Belgium
Belgium was already eliminated in the group stage during the World Cup in Qatar under the leadership of Martínez. In the four-part documentary One for All, Lukaku, Witsel and Thibaut Courtois look back on the final tournament. Belgium finished third in a group with Morocco, Croatia and Canada.
Witsel, who has since retired as an international, thinks that Martínez, now national coach of Portugal, should have been stricter for the Red Devils. “He was very kind to us. After certain matches, maybe he should have been harder on us. Rarely have I seen him really angry after games,” said the midfielder of Atlético Madrid.
Witsel not only points to Martínez. The Belgian veteran also noticed that the selection had changed in recent years. “In retrospect, hunger was less with us than in 2018. We, the players, also bear responsibility,” said the 130-time international.
Accepting criticism
Martínez’s dismissal followed soon after the World Cup. “You felt that coming,” Lukaku said. ‘Everyone wanted the trainer outside: both the Dutch-speaking and the French-speaking journalists. Okay, he may not be very clear in his communication. But do you need his phone number or something? Do you want to be best friends with him?’
“Martínez should have pushed us more or confronted us more often,” Lukaku continues. “A footballer must be able to accept criticism from his coach. We also have to push ourselves. If we make mistakes, hold us accountable.”
New adventure coming up for Alfred Schreuder
We shift our attention to another midfielder turned manager, Alfred Schreuder who will soon embark on a new adventure as a trainer. The coach is on his way to Al-Ain, the record champion of the United Arab Emirates. Schreuder was fired earlier this year as coach of Ajax.
Schreuder previously worked as an assistant to Erik ten Hag in Amsterdam and was later active at 1899 Hoffenheim and Club Brugge. He was also an assistant to Ronald Koeman at Barcelona. When Ten Hag left for Manchester United last summer, Ajax chose Schreuder as his successor.
That adventure did not go as planned. Schreuder was then linked to Leeds United and Olympiacos Piraeus, but now opts for Abu Dhabi.
