Roberto Martínez, Belgium coach, reiterated this Wednesday that his team is aiming to reach the final of the Eurocup, but urged to avoid speculation about the crosses and to focus on the match against Denmark. On the other hand, the Catalan coach said that Kevin de Bruyne is recovered from his facial fractures “but the question is how long can he play.”
“We must learn to create our own path, to prepare the team in the best possible way, to exploit our potential. But we are not here to progress, but to go to the end, if we can,” declared Roberto Martínez.
The Belgium coach insisted that each game should be a step to improve and adjust things and despite the overwhelming triumph in the debut against Russia (3-0), he spoke of the need to correct details in aspects such as rapport and the ability to reaction.
This plan includes the progressive inclusion of players who have gone through physical problems such as Axel Witsel, De Bruyne and Eden Hazard. Of the best player in the Premier League this year, who returned to training two days ago after fracturing his face in the Champions League final, Roberto Martínez said that he is fine but that the question is “how much can he play” and spoke of what he needs pick up the rhythm to be able to endure the 90 minutes.
From the Real Madrid winger, whose season has once again been weighed down by injuries, he pointed out that Eden Hazard is in a “different” situation because he already participated in the last friendly before the Euro.
And, about central Jan Vertonghen, he said that a decision will be made on whether he is to start this Thursday after the last training session on Wednesday.
Roberto Martínez recalled how hard the episode suffered on Saturday by Christian Eriksen was, even more so for several Belgian players who share or have shared a dressing room with him, and how the situation changed when better news about his condition began to arrive.
“Now it is almost a celebration of football and Christian. But it will also be an important game, each player is aware of its importance and will change the focus immediately,” he said.
The Belgian players have prepared something at the beginning of the game to remember Eriksen, explained Martínez, who did not want to be more explicit. Striker Romelu Lukaku, however, spoke of throwing the ball out in the 10th minute (the Danish player's number) and thus joining the tribute prepared by the fans of this Nordic country. Roberto Martínez is sure that without Eriksen, Denmark will be a different team, and that the match will be open.