In the absence of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans will captain the Red Devils in the Nations League match against Italy on Thursday evening at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Coach Domenico Tedesco has chosen the Aston Villa midfielder to guide a rejuvenated Belgium against Squadra Azzurra.
With over 70 caps, Tielemans, 27, is the team’s most experienced player. This is not the first time that the Brussels resident is captain of the national team. He has already worn the armband during friendly matches against Ireland (twice) and Burkina Faso.
Nevertheless, it remains a special experience to be the captain of your country. “I’m always proud, first of all, to wear the jersey, and the captain’s armband makes it even more beautiful. The coach asked me if I agreed and I accepted with a big smile,” explained Tielemans at the microphone of VTM.
According to some observers, De Bruyne’s rant after the defeat against France was aimed in particular at Tielemans. “I think it was more aimed at the whole group. There was a lot of frustration after the match and it’s never good to come out with something like that. The coach said the matter was closed .We have to remember that as a group we have to be more compact and everyone has to run for each other. That’s the positive thing we have to remember.“, replied Tielemans diplomatically.
Red Devils Youri Tielemans Nations League
