Onana Embraces Leadership Role In Belgium’s Rebuild Journey

Belgium midfielder, Amadou Onana, said he was happy to accept a role as leader in the national team as they rebuild after the dissolution of their golden generation but said a young side needed time to develop.

Onana has become a crucial player for Belgium and will play a significant role in their important Nations League match against Italy in Brussels on Thursday. They need to secure a victory to have any chance of advancing to the quarter-finals in March.

“Many players see me as a leader and I have to show that on the pitch. That won’t change.

“The coach expects the same from me. I have a good understanding with him,” he said of his relationship with Domenico Tedesco.

Belgium’s squad has evolved rapidly over the last two years, with many players coming to the end of their international careers, notably Eden Hazard and Jan Vertonghen, who is the country’s most-capped player with 157 appearances.

Kevin De Bruyne has assumed the captaincy but requested time away from the national team for the past two months, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois continues to stay away after a disagreement with the coach.

“We cannot be compared, it is a different era. We have to be given time to make our mark,” said Onana about being held up to the standards set by the team that reached the World Cup semi-final in Russia in 2018.

“I think there should be a bit more patience. Everyone is talking about that golden generation, but success in 2018 was not created in 2018, but rather long before that in 2010. Do you understand? We also need time to make our mark.

“I think you cannot compare these youngsters with the stars of that time. There are a lot of young boys coming in. That’s good for Belgian football. We can be quite satisfied,” Onana, who plays for Aston Villa, told a press conference.

Belgium currently sits in third place in Group A2 and must defeat Italy, followed by another victory against Israel in Budapest on Sunday, in their final two matches to have any hope of finishing in the top two.

Even then, they will also need other results to go their way.