Leicester City star Youri Tielemans needs to improve significantly if he is to get back into Belgium’s starting 11 moving forwards.
That’s according to journalist Peter Vandenbempt, who says the performance shown by Nottingham Forest’s Orel Mangala during this international break has pushed his compatriot out of the picture.
Mangala was brought into the Belgium team by new manager Domenico Tedesco for the recent clashes against Sweden and Germany, with the latter seeing him starring alongside Everton’s Amadou Onana in the middle of the park.
His performance in that latter game earned him rave reviews from all corners, with many believing that should be Belgium’s midfield pairing now and in future.
While he was starring in the famous win over the Germans, Tielemans was left at home, having been left out of the squad for both games.
That’s a blow for the Leicester star given he’s been a regular for his country since making his debut in November 2016 and has been considered the future of their midfield for a number of years.
Now there is increased competition for his place in the team and Vandenbempt insists the Leicester man will have to clean up his game if he wants to get back in.
“I am already very curious about the future,” Sporza report him saying.
“Because what if everyone is fit in three months and the current boys continue to perform at their clubs? Then men such as Dries Mertens, Axel Witsel, Hans Vanaken and Brandon Mechele may already realize: my international career may be over.”
“Even a Youri Tielemans will no longer be 100% sure of a place. It is not the case that the train has passed definitively, but he will still have to clean up his act if you saw Mangala busy yesterday.
“The best Tielemans can do that too, but we have simply not seen that often with the Devils.”
