Mark van Bommel taps Arsenal and Liverpool to mould Belgium’s Red Devils
Mark van Bommel, aged 49, stood at the Proximus Basecamp in Tubize on Sunday evening, 28 September 2026, to launch week one of his tenure as Belgium’s national coach. Using a remote, he displayed video clips from Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool to the Red Devils, signalling a fresh tactical direction.
Video analysis with Arsenal and Liverpool
Van Bommel pressed play on a series of clips, showing Arsenal’s high‑press, Newcastle’s quick transitions and Liverpool’s fluid attacking patterns. He explained that the staff had spent seven weeks mapping the inter‑national period, drafting every session in detail. The visual lesson aimed to illustrate how each box can sprint into the next.
He framed his approach with the mantra “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” and added the French rallying cry “Tous ensemble”, which he would later reinterpret as “all together”. “Potato, potahto,” he laughed, noting that the staff would adopt the same language. The coach stressed that the Red Devils must combine collective resolve with individual flair.
Mark van Bommel summoned every employee – from kit managers to material staff – to the Proximus Basecamp in Tubize. “Het eerste wat Mark zei: ‘Ik wil vúúr zien’,” recalled Niels Poissonnier, while Axel Brisart confirmed the atmosphere of relief among the crew. The gathering reflected the coach’s belief that every hand contributes to the project.
Senne Lammens echoed the opening line, saying, “I want to see a team that fights for each other and attackers who defend.” Charles De Ketelaere added, “High press when we lose the ball.” Nicolas Raskin highlighted “counter‑pressing across the whole field”, and Mika Godts noted, “The coach gives me a lot of freedom, that’s where I feel best.”
Van Bommel concluded, “I am not a schoolmaster, but I want to play with an idea.” He praised the group as “very intelligent” and observed an immediate surge of energy radiating from the Rode Duivels. Kevin De Bruyne added, “After one training I can already picture how he wants us to play.” Yet the coach warned that the standards he sets are demanding and leave little margin for error.
Although the session was intended to be closed, Van Bommel agreed to open the first fifteen minutes to journalists and photographers, allowing them to capture “day‑time images”. Once the media withdrew, the focus returned to the basics, with the coach reminding a winger, “Even if your first six dribbles fail, try a seventh.”
The squad, aware that they will face Italy two and a half days later, listened as Nathan Ngoy, Nicolas Raskin and Charles De Ketelaere confirmed their readiness. Van Bommel contrasted his method with that of former coach Rudi Garcia, who kept players in the dark until the final hour before a World Cup knockout match.
During the World Cup, the Rode Duivel had to guess the starting eleven just two hours before the round‑of‑16 clash with the United States. Van Bommel argued that “leaving everyone in the dark until the day before the match breaks the connection with the players”, a philosophy he believes will keep the Belgium side better prepared.