‘Nothing happened’ – Eden Hazard rubbishes claims of dressing room unrest in Belgium camp after World Cup defeat to Morocco and Thibaut Courtios sends warning source of ‘leak’
Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois hit out at 'lies' claiming there was unrest in the Belgium dressing room.
Having just edged past Canada in their opening group game, Roberto Martinez's side were beaten 2-0 by Morocco in their next Group F fixture and must now win against Croatia on Thursday to reach the last 16.
Belgium have looked a shadow of the side that reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and that were ranked No 1 in the world by FIFA only last year.
There is now much speculation of their frustrations creeping into the dressing room.
Kevin De Bruyne's declaration ahead of the tournament that the team is 'too old' to win the World Cup looks to have not gone down well with some of his teammates.
Jan Vertonghen appeared to reference De Bruyne's remarks following the defeat to Morocco, saying: “There’s so much going through my mind right now, things I shouldn’t say in the open air.
"Where did it go wrong? We probably also attack badly because we are too old, that must be it now, surely?”
Tempers are thought to have been high after the Morocco defeat, with reporting that De Bruyne, Vertonghen and captain Eden Hazard clashed in the changing room, and suggestions Romelu Lukaku had to play the role of peacekeeper.
The reports of a dressing room fight have been refuted by Hazard and Thibaut Courtois.
Hazard said: ”We had a good talk among the players. A lot has been said. We talked for an hour about good things and less good things. Now we want to win against Croatia. We now have two days to prepare. We have to be ready.
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"Nothing happened in the dressing-room. Only the coach (Roberto Martinez) spoke. I spoke to Kevin De Bruyne, he does believe in the group."
Courtois added: “We said things to each other, and sometimes it feels good. I don't think we missed it, but it's one thing to talk to each other at the table or individually or to talk in a group, to solve everything together.
“The problem, it's that what's said in the press isn't always the truth. Whoever leaked this? We don't need to know that. If it gets out, it's his last day in the national team.”
Meanwhile, De Bruyne has also faced criticism in his homeland for his actions in Qatar.
The Man City star hasn't been at his best and cut an isolated figure in Belgium's pre-match huddle ahead of their defeat to Morocco on Sunday, while his 'too old' comments also infuriated many.
Former Belgium striker Gilles De Bilde said of De Bruyne: "He is the best player in this selection, but he frustrates the others and is frustrated because it is not working himself. And that's not a good sign."