Red Devils: Tedesco continues the facelift

World news


For his second list since taking office, the new coach knew he had to take into account the Euro Espoirs, played during the second part of June. By recalling Zeno Debast, Roméo Lavia, Johan Bakayoko and Charles De Ketelaere, he opened the door to returns: those of Michy Batshuayi, Jérémy Doku and Youri Tielemans were validated.

But while the question of a return of Toby Alderweireld had arisen in the wake of the celebration of the title, it is a young defender of Iraqi origin, who did all his training at Standard, who will land in Tubize next week.

Tedesco aptly called Alderweireld, “to ask him if what he had said (Editor’s note: “if the coach calls me, I will think about it”) was no joke. But he quickly answered me that he would not come, not this time in any case”.

Al-Dakhil: “The Devils, I think about them every day”

It is therefore Al-Dakhil (21), selected with the Espoirs, who will change floors. In two seasons, his horizon has evolved at high speed. His debut at Standard had been successful, but the collective context did not help him to flourish, and, at 20, it was time to play. That’s how he left for St-Trond, against the backdrop of the settlement of a dispute between clubs.

But Al-Dakhil, in a short year and less than thirty games in Limburg, had shown enough to attract the attention of Vincent Kompany. The discovery of the Championship since January, and an end to the season in a starting role, allowed him to further refine his game, in particular marked by his speed and his ability to defend well on the man. In January, a few days before his transfer to Burnley, in the small press room of St-Truiden, he said: “The Devils, I think about them every day.” He will join them on Monday.

Rode Duivels - Tedesco roept met Al-Dakhil, Bodart, Deman en Trésor vier nieuwkomers op
Olivier Deman is the surprise of Domenico Tedesco’s list. The Cercle Brugge player was not expected. ©BELGA

Ask, the big surprise

He will be accompanied by Olivier Deman, the other big surprise on Tedesco’s list. The Cercle Brugge player (one goal and seven assists in all competitions) finished the season well, under the eyes of Domenico Tedesco for the last playoff games. The coach confided this: “For the last match, Olivier was a substitute, it was good that he was breathing a little when I knew I was going to select him. I observed his warm-up, and in fifteen minutes, he multiplied the sprints. It is the sign of a very good mentality.”

Deman is a pure product of the formation of Cercle Bruges, which he joined at seven years old. At 23, he will imitate Jelle Vossen, Tom De Sutter and Stijn De Smet, the last Cercle players to have worn the national jersey. Left winger but confined to a substitute role during his first three seasons, it is especially these last two seasons that he has made himself known. It was above all a match at OH Louvain, in the Belgian Cup, which changed his destiny. Double decisive passer, he then participates in the qualification for the round of 16 and takes, above all, a dose of confidence necessary to launch on his left side.

Since that evening in February 2021, Deman has not left the team and he has not stopped progressing, to the point of attracting the attention of Tedesco, therefore. The two young Devils, in the words of the coach, “will be challenged during the rally, because I want to see what they can bring”.

Trésor takes advantage of Trossard’s absence

Alongside the two young surprises, a third, to a lesser extent, slipped into the selection. Arnaud Bodart was called up due to the absence of Koen Casteels (overload). “As soon as we learned that Koen was forfeited, Max (Urwantschky, goalkeeping coach) told me the choice was Arnaud.” Things can turn quickly in football. A year ago, Bodart was downgraded by Luka Elsner, after a trying season, which marked her personally. Here he is Red Devil, almost thirty years after another Bodart, Gilbert, the last Standard goalkeeper called up for selection.

Alongside the surprises, there were also the absences, and there are a few: in addition to Casteels, Amadou Onana suffers from the groin and Leandro Trossard underwent surgery at the end of the season, “which is not related to the practice of football”, said Tedesco. Listening to the federal speech, it is moreover the absence of Trossard which allows Mike Trésor to be retained, this time. “We were already following him in March, but there are a lot of possibilities in his position.

In March, Thomas Meunier came. He is not included this time, any more than Dries Mertens, who nevertheless played regularly with Galatasaray. As new Devils arrive, or return (Dendoncker), will another gently close the national team book?



source

Rate article
Add a comment