Van Bommel avoids pieter‑Jan Calcoen's trap in Rome

Mark van Bommel, now Anderlecht's coach, held his first pre‑match press conference in Rome without being trapped by his colleague Pieter‑Jan Calcoen. “My players know the team,” he said, recalling the 852 days that have passed since the 3‑1 defeat to Antwerp in May 2024.

He did not deliver the spectacle expected at the Louis van Gaal, the stadium where he lifted the title with Milan in 2011. But he did have a good laugh, as Yves Taildeman, special correspondent in Rome, recalls. “If I’m nervous? No, but on Friday evening I will feel a healthy tension,” he added.

Colleague Calcoen tried to trap him by mentioning the tradition of national team coaches who reveal their starting eleven from the first match. Van Bommel retorted: “I have communicated my team to my players. That’s enough.” He thus avoided the little lie.

Lukaku relegated to the bench

When reminded that Romelu Lukaku had scored fourteen goals in twenty‑nine appearances at the Stadio Olimpico, he replied: “Do you say 40 or 14? 14? That’s nice. But Romelu still needs time.” Van Bommel made it clear that the Belgian would remain on the bench for the match.

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An Italian journalist called Lois Openda a “disaster” at Juventus. Van Bommel first asked whether the question concerned Italian football, then apologized, admitting he had “forgotten my Italian.” He concluded that Openda is playing well at Lyon, where his staff have seen him in action.

Memories of a title in Rome

In 2011, Van Bommel won the title with AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico, a memory he describes as “very pleasant to be back here.” As a Milan player, he took part in three matches on that ground: a 0‑0 draw, a 2‑3 victory over AS Roma and a 2‑0 defeat to Lazio in 2012.

He recalled that Italy has not qualified for any of the last three World Cups, while the Red Devils reached the quarter‑finals of the last World Cup, making Belgium the favourite in his view. “It would be too easy to think that way,” he moderated, adding that the match will be tough against a good team. The challenge comes within the Jupiler Pro League. Anderlecht’s goal, according to Van Bommel, is to offer recognizable football, even if a settling‑in period may be necessary.

Mark van Bommel denies three Red Devils a spot against Italy

Captain Youri Tielemans is, according to Van Bommel, “my captain, he understands football and he’s an intelligent player.” He also said he has not yet identified a small group of leaders, but that will come with time.