Will Koen Casteels remain the number 1 of the Red Devils? During the previous international break, the Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper was asked for the first time, and his competitor is in great form.
Out of sight, out of mind? By opting for Saudi Arabia last summer, Koen Casteels took an astonishing risk: that of ultimately losing his number 1 place with the Red Devils… even though he had just won it.
Following the Courtois affair, Casteels saw this starting role literally fall from the sky, he who had been working hard in the Bundesliga for years. And at Euro 2024, he proved that he deserved this chance, after brilliant seasons with Wolfsburg.
But after these performances, surprise: the same summer, Koen Casteels decided to leave Europe and sign for Al-Qadsiah, promoted to the Saudi D1. The choice of the portfolio rather than the high level, which initially did not affect his performance in selection.
Coincidence or not: during the Devils’ last two matches, in Italy and against France, Casteels was much less sure than usual. At least one goal per game can partly be put on his back, and associated with his highly criticized transfer, this did not make his publicity known to the public.
During this time, Matz Sels established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest. A team that we thought was doomed to hold on… and which is now on the championship podium, largely thanks to its Belgian between the poles.
“I think I was already having several good seasons, but it was less visible,” Sels puts things into perspective in an interview with Sporza. The former Anderlecht and La Gantoise player was in fact already very prominent in Strasbourg, then upon his arrival in England, but his teams were playing for survival.
“Will I change my status in the national team? It’s up to the coach to make that decision, I can only show up every week at the club. And I think I did it too when I got my chance with the Devils”, concludes Matz Sels, 8 times international. Answer next week.
