Roberto Martínez: Now Belgium were a team instead of individuals
Roberto Martínez, Belgium coach, speaking after a home victory against Poland in Nations League:
- It brings extra emotion when you lose against your rivals so that was definitely a motivator tonight. Against The Netherlands we were passive, waiting, insecure. Now we were a team instead of individuals.
Leander Dendoncker has such a versatile profile, we don't give him praise enough. He was very alert in the defence but he's always reliable. Against Scotland away, against Denmark. He's always been reliable. So to say this was his best game would not be fair to him. Today he just finally gets the recognition.
I said this time and time again. Nobody should be worried about the future of Belgian football. We have immense talent but we have to be patient and let the evolution take place. We finally have the structure in place. The rest will follow, but the talent is definitely there.
Toby Alderweireld has not played as a central defender for Belgium yet. But it is my opinion that with his experience he can play in any position. It's the same for Jan Vertonghen. I wanted to use these games to experiment for the World Cup and that is what I am doing. That's why he played in that position. We are trying things."
