Hans Vanaken no longer has high expectations about his future with the national team as long as Domenico Tedesco remains national coach. The Bruges playmaker responded sharply at Extra Time when he was asked about his relationship with the national coach.
Vanaken indicated that there is hardly any relationship. “Not for a while now,” it sounded significant. Vanaken indicated that he only had contact with Tedesco in the beginning, shortly after his appointment.
Tedesco called Vanaken for the first time during a difficult period at Club Brugge, under coach Scott Parker. “The reason was that things were not going well at Club. He said it was not a final decision and that I could be there next time,” says Vanaken.
And indeed, after strong Play-Offs, he was allowed to rejoin the Red Devils in June. Yet Vanaken felt that something was wrong. “I didn’t play two matches and I could already feel the mood hanging over me,” said the Club Brugge captain.
The September selection confirmed his feeling: “Tedesco then said that there was a lot of competition in my position and since then I was not even in the pre-selection.”
Vanaken thinks it is simply a tactical choice. “I think he just doesn’t see the type of player like me fitting into his system,” he says matter-of-factly. A comeback to the Red Devils under Tedesco therefore seems out of the question for the 31-year-old midfielder.
“All I can do is perform at my club. I have no control over everything else,” he concludes. However, a new national coach can open the door to the national team again.
