© AFP
He got his chance from Roberto Martinez, but Hans Vanaken was unable to make his mark with the Red Devils in the consolation final of the Nations League against Italy. And they had also seen that in the foreign media.
Vincent Van Genechten
Today at 08:07
OUR POINTS. Substitute Charles De Ketelaere best Red Devil, midfield cannot convince
The Club Brugge playmaker received a 6 out of 10 from our football editors for his performance in Turin. “With the absence of Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, he was the creative brain in the first half. Vanaken claimed the ball and did little wrong. Creating that one opening was not in it, however. He sank after the break.”
At La Gazzetta dello Sport they were a lot stricter. “What a waste”, according to the pink sports newspaper, which gave Vanaken a 5 out of 10 and considered the worst player of the Belgians. “Martinez had the idea to make him and Saelemaekers move a lot and for a while Italy didn’t understand their movements. But that didn’t last long at Vanaken, so the Belgians became predictable.”
La Repubblica also saw Vanaken toil in Turin, with a 5.5 as odds. “He only took advantage of the opportunity Martinez gave him to a certain extent. Vanaken suffered a lot from the pressure from the Italian national team.”
Goal Italia kept it at a 5/10, as did Calciomercato. “Vanaken: not seen, not heard.”
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The French L’Equipe was then the strictest of all. The sports newspaper handed out a 3/10 to our compatriot. “He was drafted on the left in support of Michy Batshuayi. But he didn’t bring enough. Vanaken defended and ran a lot without the ball, yes, but we expected him mainly offensively. There he showed too little, unlike his counterpart on the other side Yannick Carrasco.”
Axel Witsel also received a 3/10 from L’Equipe. “He had to dictate the pace, but that was really too low for a Belgian team that often suffered from the Italian force majeure. Witsel seemed to have little energy in his legs and could not inspire. He never managed to push his team in the right direction, either through poor choices or a lack of speed. And also in the duels he was often not strong enough.”
Fortunately there were good points for Charles De Ketelaere. Like a 6.5/10 in the Gazzetta. “He filled in for Saelemaekers, but Vanaken actually had to leave. His goal against Donnarumma and his combinations with De Bruyne made it clear that De Ketelaere should have started.”
Calciomercato even gave the Belgian substitute a 7/10. “We can’t help but speak well of him. The coldness with which he knocked Donnarumma confirmed that he is a great talent.”
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