If Antwerp can win the Cup again, it is among other things thanks to the performances of the 21-year-old player, indisputable holder since the start of the season. With his head firmly planted on his shoulders, the neo Red Devil returned to his team's bad patch, his dream of the Euro but also his possible transfer this summer and his radical change of mentality. All with maturity and calm, like on the pitch.
What is the general feeling in the locker room before this Belgian Cup final?
”The group is confident even if it was not easy mentally to have several defeats in the playoffs. But we showed on Sunday against Bruges that we had not lost our football and that we are ready for Thursday. I don't feel any nervousness in the group, the team is really calm. The preparation is the same as for a championship match; There is no point in changing our habits even if it is a separate meeting with a trophy to collect. You just have to be mentally ready.”
How do you view the quality of your opponent?
”The Union has proven again this season that they were a tough team and difficult to handle. You will have to be very strong to win this final. I don't think our two recent playoff losses gave them a psychological advantage. This is already a thing of the past, it’s up to us to look forward.”
Current Antwerp is no worse than a year ago.
Can we say that Antwerp's season will be ruined in the event of a defeat in the final?
”I'm not going to say that it will be a failed season, but it's clear that it would hurt to end the season without a trophy. We are still a club under construction trying to improve in different ways. There is no additional pressure given our recent results; I really feel positive vibes in the locker room.”
You said a few months ago that Antwerp are playing better than last season, is that still your opinion?
”Yes but I have to explain myself (smile). Last season, we had less control of the game and we often made the difference thanks to individual actions. This season, we are dominating matches more by having the ball more often. We have a way of playing that is different against teams who position themselves with a low block on the pitch. We have improved in many areas compared to last season but we still need to be better in the final move. In any case, current Antwerp is no worse than Antwerp a year ago.”
How do you then explain the record of 3 out of 21 in these playoffs?
”A negative dynamic was established from the start of the playoffs. In Anderlecht, on the first day, we had a very good first half before receiving a red card and suffering a first defeat. The first results were not good and it stuck in my head. We also had a lot of bad luck this season. We must now manage to get out of this bad flow.”
What rating out of ten would you give yourself for your personal season?
”(he thinks for a long time) I would give myself a 7.5 out of 10, the same mark I would have given myself last season. However, the context is different: this season, I was able to learn a lot by playing in the Champions League and being called up to the Devils. Last season I wasn't as far along in my development process but the team's results were better.”
What is your best memory this season?
”The victory against Barcelona in the Champions League will remain etched in my memory. I have been a supporter of this club since I was little thanks to players like Ronaldinho and Messi. So to succeed in beating this big name in European football is something incredible. An opponent's jersey? No, I'm not someone who asks for jerseys after matches because I'm not interested (laughs). After a victory, I prefer to celebrate with my teammates rather than rushing at an opponent to ask for their jersey. But there were still some players that I admire like Frenkie De Jong who plays in the same position as me and who performs at an exceptional level.”
Last October, you received your first minutes with the Red Devils. What feeling do you keep from this moment?
”I had dreamed of this moment since my childhood, so it was a dream that came true. It was an all the more incredible moment as I got into the game during the match which qualified Belgium for the Euro. I still framed this jersey, it's at home (smile).”
The Euro remains in the back of my mind.
You were then no longer included due to injuries, how did you experience that?
”It was very frustrating because I really wanted to show myself in front of the coach. I managed to keep a positive mindset because it wasn't the first time I was injured. Coach Tedesco stayed in touch with me during this time trying to keep me motivated. Despite this, the Euro remains in the back of my mind despite the big competition at my position. If I have a good end to the season with Antwerp, everything is possible even if I’m not thinking about it yet.”
Do you think you have the shoulders to be a leader of the Devils in the future?
”Yes I think I can do it but I still need to improve in many areas. For example, I have to be even more of a leader on the ground. If I improve my game and keep my feet on the ground, I could become a boss at the Devils but there is still a long way to go.”
Will you still be at Antwerp next season?
”For the moment, I'm very happy here with a lot of playing time. I'm still under contract until 2028 and I'll see what happens this summer. It may be the right time, but I'm not going to say that it's absolutely the time to take a step forward in my career. I still have goals with Antwerp between now and the end of the season and we will see about the rest.”
There are still some big names in European football who follow you…
”It’s flattering but I try to remain calm especially as there is a difference between the interest of a club and a concrete offer. My dream competition? I don't have one championship that attracts me more than another. The most important thing is to feel good and appreciated in your environment. It’s true that this could allow me to get a place with the Devils but I’m not thinking about all that now.”
What role does your mother, with whom you have a very strong relationship, play in your career?
”It’s quite simple: my mother is everything to me. When I was little, she did everything for me and I wouldn't be where I am without her. We lived as a couple throughout my youth and she gave up everything to make me comfortable. Thanks to my performances, I manage to give her a little happiness but it will never be equal to everything she gave me. I am so grateful for what she did for me…”
I often wanted to quit football because I didn't think I was good enough.
Do you feel like you've come a long way?
”Yes, clearly. I had a lot of doubts during my childhood and I often even wanted to quit football because I didn't think I was good enough. I wasn't happy with my performance and I saw that I wasn't making my mom proud. There were times when I was really at the end of my rope. In these moments of doubt, my mother always cheered me up by telling me that my time would come. She had sacrificed so much for me that I couldn’t stop overnight.”
You have also experienced drama in your private life (Editor's note: the death of a teammate at OHL in a car accident and the recent death of his father). What impact has this had on your career?
”It allowed me to put things into perspective. Before, I was very stressed: I didn't want to make the slightest mistake because I was trying to be the perfect player so as not to disappoint my mother and the people who believed in me. I was also stressed in my private life because I saw that things were not going well in football and I had no idea what else I could do in life. At one point, I had a mental switch after a long personal work. What happened to me in life allowed me to put things into perspective. For example, it's no longer worth stressing over a football match. I just try to do my best on the pitch and have fun.”
