Club BruggeCharles De Ketelaere (19) is a phenomenon. Yesterday he was again important for Club Brugge in the Champions League. A ‘best of’ of the Belgian teen sensation at the champions ball. “Maybe I’ll sit on a cloud for a while.”
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What can he not do, Charles De Ketelaere?
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Whether you put him on the flank or in midfield, as a back or deep in striker: he impresses everywhere.
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A week ago, in Dortmund, he still excelled against Jadon Sancho and Thorgan Hazard. As an occasional left back, strong in duel, good at playing football. And a match day later, he also turns out to be a defining striker. Would there also be a keeper in De Ketelaere? “I used to be in goal in our garden,” he laughed, just before midnight. “My brother had a cannon shot. Although I did take one regularly. ”
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Dry bang
It is that Charles De Ketelaere who gave Club a memorable evening yesterday. Fifteen years after the last home victory in the Champions League, he was just four years old. Offside was still strange to him. 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 especially. He remembers almost nothing of all those duels at Jan Breydel in which it did not work out over the years. Not even the one in which he was a ball boy. What does it matter? What counts is the present. Match winner in St. Petersburg, and now also at home against the Russians. With a wonderfully dry bang I took care of 1-0: “the ball suddenly fell at my feet”. To be at the basis of the penalty for 2-0 after the break with a quick reaction. And that for someone who is still only nineteen. “I’m happy for myself, my family and the team,” he almost whispered. Silent Charles. Not a man or ego, but a timid poster boy. “Whether I am never on a cloud? Ruud (Vormer, ed.) Keeps me with my feet on the ground. ”
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A little further on, the Club captain grinned. “Really, little one? I am curious about tomorrow morning (today, ed.). ” De Ketelaere: “Maybe I’ll be on it for a while.”
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You don’t beat Zenit 3-0 every day. Moreover, the biggest Belgian home win in the history of the Champions: “Nice”. That was also his answer to the fact that De Ketelaere is the first Belgian teenager with two goals on the champion ball. It will only increase its popularity. Kind of the house, already with a meter-long graffiti wall in the city of Bruges with its image on it. “That is very nice. I thanked the artist. What is still allowed in the future? (embarrassed laugh) I’ll leave that to the fans. ”
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For De Ketelaere – who has been a star at Club for weeks – only one thing counts: what goes on between the white lines. In full euphoria last night his gaze was already on Lazio. “We may already be sure of the Europa League, but it’s not over yet. We’re going to Rome to win. At home there would have been a victory as well, but then we were stuck on a draw. In any case, we will go there with confidence. And full for the win. Hopefully I can score again. (laugh) I’ve got the hang of it. ”
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