Minutes after it was learned that his Belgium will face France, current world champion, in the Final Four of the Nations League, Roberto Martínez chatted with the media. These were his impressions on the crash of October 7, 2021 in Turin or the state of Eden Hazard.
France Analysis: “There were not many options to choose from, which shows the great quality and level of this Final Four. It was good to play with them in a great tournament, we have improved a lot since then: we are good in the FIFA Ranking, we have developed many players and we both teams know each other very well. We share great memories of the World Cup. “
The tournament, less priority: “It will be incredible that the fans can come to Turin. When you have a date, you know the rival and the city you hope that in the new normal the fans can be in the stadium. The Eurocup, obviously, is the priority, and also in March we will start with qualification for the World Cup. An exciting year awaits us, but it is good to have a rival now. “
Hazard and Mbappé: “Eden is a player who can change and win any game in one action and I think it's fair to say that Kylian is becoming this type of footballer in France and at PSG. Eden has been doing this for many many years and in this, in his roles, they are comparable, but not as players because they are very different. “
Avoid Spain: “In this competition it is not a matter of trying to avoid a certain team, the level is very very high and this shows that the format works. These four teams were not in the first Four Final and this makes it a very prestigious and very interesting tournament to win. Any selection will be difficult. “
Fear for Hazard's Next Year: “No. It has been a very very unfortunate year, in this case due to different problems. I would be concerned if the games that he has missed with his team had been for the same reason, we did not know what it is if he did not react to the treatment. That would be to worry. I saw a happy player in the first hour and a half in Milan against Inter. When you enjoy yourself, you make a difference, and he made it. Now he has had the coronavirus and a normal injury, only muscular, I am not worried about a time issue, but because of the lack of happiness he is feeling in this period. He should be on the field, enjoying his football, and we have to wait a little longer. “
Rematch with France for the 2018 semi-final: “I don't believe in this in football, every game is a challenge and we look at the Nations League. It is a difficult situation because we are going to play the Euro Cup first. I feel like they are stronger than in 2018 and we, too, so it will be a great game with two great generations for their countries “.
I remember the World Cup what needs to change: “It was a very even game. We didn't get the ones we had and France did. They played very very well, they did a great defensive job, we were not as fresh as during the tournament. The margin was very small. I had the feeling that the one who scoring first would have a great advantage. France should be given credit for how they managed the game and learned from the defeat in the final of Euro 2016. “
Face France in Euro 2021: “It would be a great sign. I consider her one of the top players in world football and I think they will do well. But today is more to talk about who will be our rival in October and hope that our fans can be in Turin.”