The rows between club and international managers is nothing new, but since Ronald Koeman decided to wage war on Martin O’Neill last season over his continued selection of James McCarthy, it seems that the issue has moved up a notch.
Such is the pressure on club managers today that frustration can manifest itself in strange ways but make no mistake – club managers put pressure on their colleagues a national level to rest key players.
Ever since Roberto Martinez found himself in charge of one of Belgium, one of the most gifted national squads in world football (the decision is still mind-boggling given his failures elsewhere) he has been heading towards the classic club versus country conflict.
This weekend he has the chance to win back some praise from some of Europe’s top managers by resting some key players as his side have already qualified for the World Cup in Russia next summer as group winners.
However it seems the Spaniard has no such intention of keeping anybody happy but himself as he puts his stars through their paces for the meaningless games away at Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday then at home to Cyprus on Tuesday.
Vincent Kompany has not played for Manchester City since picking up a calf injury whilst playing for Belgium against Gibraltar on August 31. Still he was summoned to join up with the squad this week only for Belgium’s medical staff to confirm he is in fact injured and reluctantly Martinez sent him back to Manchester.
Romelu Lukaku has started the season in blistering form for Manchester United but suffered an ankle injury in the win over Crystal Palace at the weekend. Martinez has subsequently put Lukaku on an ‘intensive fitness programme’ ahead of the match on Saturday in order to ‘prove his fitness.’
Eden Hazard has not fully recovered from the injury he suffered while on international duty in June and is only just back in the Chelsea squad having looked off the pace in his first 90 minutes against Manchester City last Saturday. Still he is expected to feature for Belgium this weekend.
Nobody has started the season as well as Kevin De Bruyne and Pep Guardiola will be desperate to give his star man a break this weekend having played nearly every minute of City’s campaign so far. Not so, as he too is on a special programme with Belgium to prove his fitness ahead of the match.
Many will say Martinez has every right to play who he wants but a serious injury to any of the stars on show will surely bring yet more criticism on Martinez.
He could help his squad and his reputation by playing some of the fringe players. That doesn’t look likely at present.
