Monday, 8th April, 2013
Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder and Belgium international Axel Witsel has lauded national team head coach Marc Wilmots for his impact on the Belgian squad, adding that his "discipline" and "winning mentality" gives the team a boost.
Belgium won both their matches against Macedonia as the two met in a double-header during the 10-day long international break last month, keeping the Red Devils in first place of their group qualifier – success Witsel attributes to their coach.
"Marc Wilmots boosts us", Witsel told RTBF in an interview. "He installed a new way of life for the team, on and off the pitch."
"His discipline, winning mentality and desire to excel sums up his personality as a coach."
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Witsel was also delighted with the way the national team is shaping up – with the domestic media touting the current squad as Belgium’s "golden generation". "The skill in the team is much higher now. Almost all our players play abroad and they are quality players.
"In the past there was not much competition [to play] as there is now", the Zenit man continued. "Now we have a lot of quality in midfield and it’s difficult for the coach to make his choices."
In recent games, Everton’s Marouane Fellaini has been favoured by Wilmots to play in the advanced midfield position – a role then occupied by Witsel. But the Zenit midfielder doesn’t mind.
"True, I like playing number 8. I like to be on the offensive, but it’s ok for me to play as a holding midfielder. It is still an important role and I feel I am competent enough to do it."
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