Still unemployed following his departure from the Belgium national team role, Marc Wilmots is still making headlines with interviews around Europe now and then.
Consistently criticised for a lack of structure in his plans, especially throughout the Euros, Wilmots’ Belgium often came across as an attacking free for all, a stark contrast to what Roberto Martinez has already managed to instil since taking over.
Of course, bad results often lead to negative comments, and a few of the Belgium players, notably Thibaut Courtois and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku, even went out of their way to criticise their manager at the time.
Asked about this in an interview with WELT, Wilmots said: “These are young players, and certainly there were some statements that didn’t help the situation and provoked conflicts. The media pounced on these and interpreted them to the extreme.
“For example: Eden Hazard said in an interview there was no automatism on the pitch. He was, of course, right, as we are a national team. You can’t be as well linked compared to club level, but the media saw that as the manager’s fault and failure.”
With the Everton striker coming into the first team at such a young age, has often been the target of abuse from Belgium fans when things haven’t gone their way, yet a lot of it was down to Wilmots’ tactics.
Lukaku and Wilmots appeared to have an uneasy relationship, more so than the other players mentioned. In June 2013, Wilmots said of the Everton player and Christian Benteke: “We ask them to come to the front post, but they stood there like two poles. We still have to work.”
In September Wilmots added: “Lukaku is doing well. He has already scored four times for Everton. If he plays, I expect that he plays for the team, and will use his speed behind and in the corners. He must not take root between the two Bosnian defenders. He needs to move and create space for others.”
Since Martinez’s arrival, Lukaku has scored five goals in his last three starts in form reminiscent that achieved at club level with Everton. Martinez has overseen four wins in their last four World Cup qualifiers, with his side scoring 21 goals along the way.
