“What do you mean, it didn’t work today?”: disappointed Red Devils denounce negativity after blamage against Israel

Another painful evening for the national team. The Red Devils choked on Israel and suffered yet another defeat. Still, after the match the protagonists try to build on what went well. “Because we are too negative in our country, I have a big problem with that,” he said.

Losing against the number 81 in the world, that was not the plan with which the Red Devils traveled to Budapest.

But after another 90 dull minutes, that painful 1-0 for Israel was on the board. Yet the Devils did not want to look at things too gloomy. Dodi Lukebakio in particular did not understand what was so bad about tonight’s match.

“What do you mean, it didn’t work today?” he immediately made his opinion clear. “Israel was 5 behind and was clearly waiting for the counter. Okay, maybe it wasn’t enough compared to previous matches. But if we win here, then we don’t speak in the same way.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed, but it’s a shame that we couldn’t win the match. We know what we have to do: create and finish more chances.”

We must be given time, because that negativity reflects on the young players.

Dodi Lukebakios

In retrospect, Lukebakio thought it was unjustified that the journalists were critical of the mediocre party.

“We are too negative in our country, I have a big problem with that,” he said. “We need to support each other more. Comparing with the old generation doesn’t help either.”

“Today there were a lot of injured players. We did our best and had chances, but we made a mistake. Israel didn’t win because it deserved it.”

“This is part of it, we are building a generation and that takes time. We must be given time, because that negativity reflects on the young players. That has to stop. We also want things to get better, but that will not happen in happen once.”

A clear statement from the winger. And Ameen Al-Dakhil also feels the pressure around the national team.

“Of course, among those absent were players we definitely needed,” he opened. “Although it was certainly possible with this team.”

“We just have to give it a little time. The media sometimes puts too much pressure on us. However, not the entire match was negative. But that is part of football. Now we have time until March, then we will show very nice things .”

In the past we could decide a match with individual flashes, now we have to rely more on the collective.

Koen Casteels

As an experienced player, Koen Casteels can handle criticism and saw from his cage what was wrong today. “We had a lot of ball possession, but we were not dangerous enough in the last 30 meters.”

“We have to be more creative and force more to create opportunities. In terms of quality, we have a better team than Israel, but it is not always easy to explain why.”

“In the past we could decide a match with individual flashes, now we have to rely more on the collective. It was also not an easy situation with many players who had not yet worked with the coach.”

Occasional captain Timothy Castagne was ultimately the sharpest of all the Devils. “We just weren’t good enough,” he said.

“We started well and tried to apply pressure, but sometimes they came under the pressure too easily and that gave them confidence. I also don’t want to use the absentees as an excuse.”

“We have many young players with many qualities, but these are only their first matches with the national team. We still have to find those automatisms. Today was not good, everyone must take responsibility.”

“In football, people often point to the coach when things don’t go well, but today and against Italy everyone had their share. We have to look in the mirror and do better.”