Pablo Zabaleta has slammed former Manchester Metropolis teammate Kevin De Bruyne after he claimed that Belgium had no likelihood of profitable the Qatar World Cup.
De Bruyne’s feedback got here earlier than Belgium’s shock defeat to Morocco on Sunday, the place Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech impressed the African nation to a 2-0 victory over the facet at present second within the FIFA rankings.
The attacking midfielder mentioned: ‘I feel our [Belgium’s] likelihood was in 2018. We now have an excellent crew, however it's ageing. We misplaced some key gamers.
‘We now have some good new gamers coming, however they aren't on the degree different gamers had been in 2018. I see us extra as outsiders.’
Whereas there is a component of fact to this, many really feel that the age of the squad isn't any excuse for the poor performances De Bruyne’s facet have been placing in.
Whereas they did beat Canada 1-0 of their opening recreation, they had been decidedly second-best and following Sunday’s outcomes their possibilities of even reaching the knockout stage, not to mention profitable the World Cup, have taken a giant hit.
Zabaleta, who performed alongside De Bruyne on the Etihad from 2015 to 2017, was less-than impressed with the 31-year-old’s remarks and slated the complete Belgium crew for his or her weak mentality.
‘When you have got a few of your greatest gamers coming in and saying, “we now have no likelihood at this World Cup, the squad is just too outdated”, it can have an effect on the mentality of this group,’ the enduring defender informed BBC Sport.
‘There’s no ardour, no hearth. It’s actually unhappy to see that group of gamers not combating for his or her nation. My massive concern about Belgium is the gamers saying we’re not the crew we was once.
‘That’s not the mentality you convey into the World Cup. They nonetheless have sufficient good gamers to win and beat anyone. If I’m one of many senior gamers right here I’m fuming.
‘In comparison with Croatia or Uruguay, I don’t hear them complaining concerning the ageing squad. It’s not the standard.
‘They nonetheless have adequate gamers however when you complain about all these issues it’s going to be very tough. It’s not the suitable mentality.’
Belgium’s last recreation in Group F can be in opposition to 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia on Thursday.
.
.
Post a Comment