Casteels was nonetheless one of many uncommon Devils to have given a couple of autographs. ©VKA
We already knew it: Casteels is just not the funniest Satan. However whenever you change the most effective goalkeeper on the earth and nearly the entire nation has been pushing for Domenico Tedesco to bury the hatchet with Courtois, you possibly can anticipate to obtain questions on this topic. Casteels clearly didn’t share this opinion.
When requested if he felt extra stress given Courtois’ absence, his reply was appropriate. “No manner. We’re right here with an excellent core. We’re all satisfied of our qualities. I do not assume I’ve a lot left to show after enjoying so many matches in Germany (Editor’s be aware: 357 to be exact).”
guillement
How ought to I reply to this? I’ve already confirmed myself sufficiently in Germany.
However when a colleague from Standaard adopted up on this response by asking: “Within the youth groups at Genk, you have been nearly as good or higher than Courtois. Does this provide you with confidence in view of the Euro?”, he was silent for a couple of seconds and sighed earlier than turning to press chief Stefan Van Loock, who had no different alternative however to say: “The Thibaut chapter is closed. We’re not going to speak about that a lot anymore.”
Our colleague, nonetheless, insisted: “I couldn’t ask this query?” Casteels: “Sure, however what ought to I say to that? I’ve already confirmed myself. I’ll do my greatest on this event.” Our colleague: “It’s nonetheless true that you simply have been at the least nearly as good as him, proper?” Casteels, cynically: “Thanks very a lot. Thanks a lot.”
Questions on his competitors with Matz Sels didn’t sit effectively with him both. When La DH needed to know if he was not upset that there have been doubts about who could be no 1 on the Euro, given the great performances of Sels in Eire and England, he replied: “Who expressed these doubts?”
The media, Koen. However the federal coach waited a very long time earlier than asserting his resolution. “I don’t learn the newspapers,” replied Casteels. And so, that could not offend me. I’m pleased that he declared earlier than the Euro who might be no 1. It’s good to have readability.”
Casteels coaching in Freiberg with Kaminski. ©VKA
After which, we nonetheless needed to broach the topic of his switch to Saudi Arabia, the place he’ll earn practically 10 million web per season. Current for VTM, Gilles De Bilde needed to know why he lastly opted for a Saudi neo-promo when he had declared that he would go to a membership with an attention-grabbing sporting mission. “I performed for 13 years within the Bundesliga. I am nearly 32 years outdated. I am not going to simply any membership in Saudi Arabia. I went there. The proprietor of the membership has nice sporting ambitions. The championship is turning into increasingly more enticing. Many different European gamers made the identical alternative as me. Once I see their names, it’s an exaggeration to say we don’t play soccer there.”
And what in regards to the human rights which might be violated within the nation the place he’ll play? “I’m going there to apply my occupation. The objective is to go play soccer. Everybody has their opinion on this topic. I can simply inform you that I used to be effectively obtained. I used to be impressed by the worldwide faculties for my kids and the homes I visited additionally left impression on me.”
guillement
Anderlecht weren’t champions so talks didn’t proceed.
Within the meantime, he needed to disappoint Anderlecht, who have been banking on him to exchange Kasper Schmeichel. On Saturday, within the blended zone after the match towards Luxembourg, he despatched La DH away when he obtained a query about his flirtation with Sporting. “It’s the Euro, it’s not the time to speak about that.”
We made one other try at this Thursday’s press convention. Would he have stated sure to the RSCA if the Mauves had been champions and due to this fact performed within the Champions League? “They did not win the title they usually did not qualify for the Champions League. So the talks didn’t undergo and due to this fact I can not reply this hypothetical query.”
In brief, it wasn’t straightforward to ask questions that Casteels appreciated. The German journalists who lined boating subjects have been entitled to a smile. “Sure, the lodge is sweet. It is not nice luxurious, however it’s sufficient for us. We really feel at dwelling. Sure, the bottom is sweet. It will get broken fairly rapidly, however that is okay. Sure, it was good to have been in a position to give some autographs and images to the kids who we made pleased. And sure, Tedesco is a sometimes German coach, who needs self-discipline when vital. I am used to having German coaches, so it would not hassle me. And no, I do not know what sort of coach Kompany might be at Bayern, since I by no means had him as a coach. However as a participant, he already had management skills.”
guillement
Belgium should be happy with its goalkeepers born in 1992 as a substitute of contemplating them as rivals.
No, Casteels didn’t rating factors with Belgian journalists. That is maybe why he nonetheless needed to ship them a optimistic message to conclude his press briefing. “I all the time felt able to play in earlier tournaments (Editor’s be aware: he missed the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2021 resulting from accidents and was quantity 3 on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups), however the coach made different selections . Belgium has superb goalkeepers who have been born in 1992 (Casteels, Courtois, Sels and Kaminski are from this 12 months). As a rustic, we ought to be happy with a era like this as a substitute of seeing them as rivals.”
