Isaac Price has not yet managed to achieve the same performance at Standard as with his national team, Northern Ireland. In a press conference, the 21-year-old spoke about the differences in the instructions given to him, as well as the physical level of the Jupiler Pro League.
For many, there are two different Isaac Prices. The Northern Irish international, regularly scorer, passer and placed among the best players of the match, then the Standard midfielder, much more discreet and sometimes quite imprecise. At a press conference this Friday, the 21-year-old returned to the differences between his tasks with the national team and club.
“A lot of people tell me I score a lot for Northern Ireland and not here, but the type of football and my position are completely different. International football is always more technical, slower, less physically demanding and I’m evolving with Northern Ireland in a more advanced position than at Standard.”
I may be less decisive on a statistical level, but I regularly come back to defense to help my partners” – Isaac Price
“I don’t look at who scores, but the team’s result. I may be less decisive statistically, but I come back on defense to recover a ball or win a duel. Maybe I could find myself more often in the rectangle, but the football played is totally different.”
If with Standard, Isaac Price plays well in an advanced position, the instructions given to him are visibly different than in the national team, where he must concentrate much less on his defensive task. With the Rouches, not conceding is the priority.
“My role is also different because of the style of the players alongside me. In Northern Ireland we have a lot of ball players in midfield, which allows me to go higher. Here we have more elements defensively, so there is an adaptation. Maybe people are not very happy with our style of play, but we ask them to support us and believe in us, the victories will come and we hope as soon as possible. .”
The Belgian championship forged him physically
At the same time, the former Everton player has also expanded, particularly in the shoulders, since his arrival in July 2023. Landing as a player still hopeful, not yet truly ready for the professional world, Isaac Price has today now physically seasoned.
“This year, I’m working a lot on important factors in the gym. Last season was very demanding and I realized that in Belgium, we face a lot of very physical players. It’s a very good championship, with a lot of individual qualities and a lot of races, in which the teams fight a lot.”
