Van Bommel urges Bryan Heynen to keep winning mentality for Belgium

Captain Bryan Heynen reflected on Saturday evening that KRC Genk’s win over KV Kortrijk marked a positive response after a difficult start to the season, but he warned one good result is not enough. He stressed that the team must maintain the right mentality for the full ninety minutes, a point echoed by national team manager Roberto Martínez, known as Van Bommel in the interview.

Mindset after a tough start

Heynen said the side showed the correct reaction, yet emphasized that consistency over the entire match is essential. He noted that the long international break made preparation challenging because many key players were away with their national squads.

The absence of those players limited Jess Thorup’s tactical options, giving the remaining Genk squad a chance to work on individual weaknesses.

Looking back to move forward

After the match, Heynen explained that the group revisited the opening weeks of the campaign during the final days of the international break. “We looked back at the past weeks to identify where we still need to improve,” he said.

Thorup had already said he wanted a stronger winner’s mentality, and Heynen agreed, adding, “Everyone shows the desire to win, but we must sustain it for ninety minutes.”

Personal ambition and national hopes

Heynen, who has earned a single Belgium cap in March 2025 against Ukraine at Genk’s stadium, expressed a desire for more opportunities. “As long as the chance exists, I want to return. I tasted it once and it was a unique experience,” he said.

He acknowledged that future call‑ups are beyond his control: “Those are decisions for others. I can only do my best for Genk and see what happens.”

Voor the captain, the immediate task is to ensure the recent performance does not become an outlier and to help lift Genk again, hoping strong club displays will reopen the door to the Rode Duivels.