You are one of the strong men of the playoffs, how do you judge your performances?
“The role of a goalkeeper is to be stable and to bring stability to his team. We talk a lot about goalkeepers for their saves but that's not the most important thing in my opinion. A guardian must be the anchor you can hold on to in the storm. Players put so much energy into their races that they are less lucid when making the right decision. My pulse is not as high as theirs and so my role is to be a calm influence and guide them. ”
Are you considering gaining momentum over the past few weeks?
“I'm not looking to be the best but the most consistent player. This is the common thread of my career. The back four know what they can expect from me. I don't do a match at ten out of ten then the next at four. I have to play six or seven matches out of ten. ”
How do you explain playing better in the playoffs than in the regular season?
“The current matches are the ones that make me come alive, that motivate me. The stakes are enormous, it all comes down to small things. When I look back, I always played my best matches in complicated matches. These are also the matches that I preferred. If you don't enjoy games like these then you've chosen the wrong sport. ”
With age you learn that the moments where you can win a title are not many.
This may disturb some…
“So, it's up to the more experienced players like Jan (Vertonghen) or me to take the pressure. We let the young people play their football and we take responsibility. We know the effects of a title race because we've been through it before. We need to guide the team in the right direction and make sure others don't feel the pressure inherent in the situation. Many of our players have never won a title. When you play at Anderlecht, the expectations and hopes of lifting trophies are just enormous and it's a lot to handle for young players. They know that in difficult times, they can rely on players like me. ”
Anderlecht is interested in Daniel Peretz, 3rd goalkeeper of Bayern Munich
Is this end of the season with Anderlecht more stressful than your title with Leicester?
“It's not stressful, that's what football is all about. Don't we play to win? These matches are moments of joy. They are the essence of football. When I was a kid, I dreamed of playing trophy-winning matches where the stakes were huge. I was lucky enough to experience them winning a Premier League, an FA Cup and a Community Shield. With age you learn that these moments don't come back so regularly in a career. You have to savor every minute because you don't know when the next one will come. ”
