Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels has insisted he has no plans to retire from international duty with Belgium, and instead has his eyes on the number one spot.
Voetbalkrant cover comments from the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper today in which he shares his pride at his latest call-up.
Sels has established himself as the number one for Nottingham Forest since arriving in an €8m deal from Strasbourg at the end of the January transfer window.
He’s proven worthy of that status this season as Nottingham Forest have enjoyed a flying start to the season and he’s kept four clean sheets in ten Premier League games so far.
That’s earned him a place in the Belgium squad for the next international break and the chance to add to the eight caps he’s earned so far after making his debut in June 2021.
The goalkeeper position is in flux for Belgium at this moment in time after Thibaut Courtois publically announced he would not put himself up for selection under the current management.
Koen Casteels appears to be the man selected by Domenico Tedesco at this point, but Sels isn’t giving up yet, boosted by a strong start to the season with Nottingham Forest.
“I am still very proud when I am called up and will never consciously skip an international match,” he said.
“I already had that feeling with the national youth teams and it has not changed yet. I also just want to play as many international matches as possible. For me, that remains the greatest honour you can receive as a footballer.
“Every player who is called up has the ambition to play. We shouldn’t be shy about that. Of course I want to become the Red Devils’ first goalkeeper. It would be crazy for me to say otherwise. But I will never question the choice of the national coach.
“In the end, I can only do my best and seize my opportunity when I get it. Fortunately, I don’t think I have ever been disappointed under this national coach. Everything is also going well at Nottingham. Oh well, we’ll see.”