Belgium

Roberto Martinez: 'Belgium golden generation enjoying responsibility'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 02 December 2017

Roberto Martinez acknowledges that Belgium's current team is a "golden generation" and insists that the players are enjoying the responsibility that comes with the tag.

Roberto Martinez has admitted that Belgium's current team is a "golden generation" and insists that the players are enjoying the responsibility that comes with the tag.

The majority of the players that make up the Red Devils first team ply their trade for leading clubs in the Premier League, Ligue 1, La Liga, and other illustrious European leagues.

Other countries, including England, have previously buckled under the pressure of the label, but Martinez claims that everything is in place in the Belgium setup to allow his charges to handle the pressure.

"Yes, this is a golden generation in terms of the quality of the players because they are fulfilling big roles at club level now and have developed a winning mentality," Martinez told The Telegraph.

"But World Cups don't understand about 'golden generations' or big reputations. They understand about being a team and being able to perform. That is my biggest intention: to allow what we all call in Belgium the 'golden generation' to enjoy the responsibility they are carrying.

"It is not a fear at all. It is something they really enjoy. This generation has got a talent that should allow the fans to get excited and to have a lot of belief. The understanding and preparation for a World Cup is overwhelming. There is a huge sense of responsibility and my job is to be 24 hours-a-day to make sure they have the perfect platform."

Belgium have qualified for the last two major international tournaments and will play in the same group as England in the 2018 World Cup.