Romelu Lukaku, as reported by Sporza, gave an insightful interview over two hours with Friends of Sports and Koolcast Sport. The Red Devils leading goal scorer was asked about the national team, the future generation, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the situation with Thibaut Courtois. Lukaku’s answers gave us an insight into his and his generations mentality and their approach to working with the up and coming generation of Belgian football.
Over recent months, players like Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne have made headlines in Belgium. De Bruyne was highly critical following the disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, but Lukaku had an explanation for why the midfielder was so outspoken. The Napoli forward said ‘With the generation from 2016 to 2022, we had our identity. The players who are left now want to help the others to create their own identity’. This winning mentality is what Lukaku wants to instill in this new generation.
The most revealing moment of the interview was when Lukaku spoke about why that mentality might be missing in this new look Red Devils team. for the forward, its all about experience of playing under pressure to win at club level. The forward said ‘When you play in a certain type of team where you don’t always feel the pressure to always win and play for the titles… And then you come to the national team where you always played the last tournaments to win… When you don’t feel that pressure and you’re not a player who pushes yourself, then it’s very difficult. And that’s – I think – the problem we have’.
However, he did then go on to say that he believes that this generation have the talent to do well. He also was very diplomatic when talking about the drama surrounding Courtois and head coach Domenico Tedesco. Lukaku says he remains on good terms with both player and coach, but blames the Football Association for not dealing with it in a way that would have reduced the tension.
When asked about the 2022 World Cup, the now veteran forward said it was one of the hardest moments of his footballing career. He said that after the disappointment he decided he would quit the national team. However, after talking with Tedesco and his brother he decided to remain available for the Red Devils. He then scored a hat-trick against Sweden in his first game under the German head coach.
Lukaku, like De Bruyne, decided not to make himself available for the recent Nations League matches against Italy and France. Belgium drew to Italy and then lost to France.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Ben Jackson
