Kevin De Bruyne, the captain of the Red Devils, spoke at a press conference on the eve of Belgium’s first match in Euro 2024.
Kevin De Bruyne and the Red Devils will launch their Euro 2024 on Monday, against Slovakia. For the captain, who has participated in all international campaigns since the 2014 World Cup, a new story which begins after a 2022 World Cup sometimes shaken by controversy. “Qatar is in the past“, assured De Bruyne at a press conference on Sunday.
“I don’t see this Euro as revenge“, explained the Manchester City midfielder on the eve of the first match. “Qatar was a disappointment, but that was a year and a half ago. The Euro is a new tournament, with a new coach and a team that has changed half. What happened is behind us, and there is no point dwelling on it.“
Enthusiasm reigns in a group “sharp, with everyone ready to start this tournament. We will have to find a positive dynamic from the start. The team is ready and has a lot of energy to achieve something good.“
The status of favorite or outsider of Belgium, which occupies 3rd place in the world rankings, has been the subject of much discussion. However, it matters very little in the eyes of the players. “In tournaments, a defeat or two excludes you from the competition. A ranking or status doesn’t matter much“, summarized Kevin De Bruyne.
The playing master of the Red Devils knows that the media attention is likely to fall on him in a group rich in young shoots. “I just want to play football well“, he said. “The group is alive, the young people are sharp and want to show themselves in their best light. A tournament like this provides an opportunity to show their quality. Everything I see in matches and in training bodes well“, he concluded.
Red Devils Kevin De Bruyne
