Leandro Trossard is back in the Belgian national team setup, putting to rest any questions about his commitment to the squad.

The Arsenal winger, who was left out of the last international window by coach Domenico Tedesco, made it clear that he never intended to distance himself from the Red Devils.

“I never said I didn’t want to be selected anymore,” Trossard said during his media appearance at the KBVB Federal Building in Tubeke.

"I never said I didn't want to be selected anymore.” Leandro Trossard (29) is again Red Devil. According to the Maaslander, more words do not have to be made dirty. We'll do it anyway. Along with the Arsenal vedette. "I never said I didn't want to be selected.” Het Belang van Limburg9 Oct 2024 In the entrance hall of the modern KBVB Federal Building in Tubeke hangs a giant ledwall of around 20 m2. Across the screen, non-stop pictures of the Red Flames celebrating with a group of fans, Onana in an anti-racism T-shirt, Missipo promoting the international against Greece and a wide-smiling Leandro trossard. Yes, Trossard is Red Devil again and Trossard can smile again. Last month he was passed by Domenico Tedesco. Because the national coach, he said himself, knows the qualities of the Limburger and he wanted to see Duranville at work, among other things. Could you live with the trainer's explanation, Leandro? Trossard: "Gosh, you don't think about it beforehand and I didn't see it coming either, so I was still happy with the call I got from the national coach in advance. He explained to me that he wanted to test new guys, including players who had not done much during the European Championship. I could agree with that explanation, that was the end of the story for me.” Have you watched the matches against Israel and France on tv or have you been drawn on vacation? “Both. I took a vacation, but also followed the matches. (laughs)” "We will see how the coach wants to deal with it in the future, I don't know his plans exactly. But I never indicated that I didn't want to be selected anymore. Now let's finish the matches against Italy and France first, then we'll see.” A moment of rest, as De Bruyne and Lukaku asked, is not necessary for you? "Every player has to take care of that. We all have a busy schedule, that's right. And there are players who have made arrangements with the coach. I am personally happy to be here, because I want to continue the good line at Arsenal with the Red Devils.” You are indeed achieving a very high level at Arsenal at the moment, is this your best period so far in London? "I've been at Arsenal for two years now and so far I've had pretty consistent performances. The team is also running well at the moment, then it's easy for me. I feel great in my skin anyway and you can see that on the field.” Is the League worth enough? "Where?” Here in Belgium? "Well, everyone has their own opinion and that is allowed. I focus on my game at Arsenal, the coach is very happy with me, that's the most important thing.” For Kevin De Bruyne it would be easier to play with a top team like City than with the Red Devils, because the level here is lower at the moment. Do you have the same feeling? "Gosh, a lower level (think for a moment). Too many comparisons are made with how it used to be with the Red Devils. We had the Golden Generation, that's right, but now there are other guys, with their own qualities, so we have to adapt to that too.” "That here we have much less time to train together, to knead a tactical plan. Sometimes we have to do that in a few days, ter you are at your club that can sharpen things every day.” We just talked about Kevin De Bruyne, he's not here. Will you take over his role? “It's not up to me to take over someone else's role, I just behave the way I did before. I am quite competent in the field, it will remain so. But when you ask who will be captain, I personally think of Youri (Tielemans, who in the meantime was also referred to as Captain, Ed.). He's been there the longest and also the cut person.” The national coach said last Friday that you can do best on the left side? Leandro Trossard “I don't know what position I'm going to play, we won't talk about that until Wednesday. For me it doesn't matter, but it's always nice to take a position that you are used to. During the European Championship, I stood in different places. Yannick (Carrasco, Ed.) was also played out once in my back, as a left back, he had never done that before. It wasn't always easy.” "There are too many comparisons with the past. We have had the Golden Generation, but now there are other guys, with their own qualities, so we have to adapt to that too” for you personally. Do you think you have something to fix now? "No, absolutely not. Everyone can have their opinion on the European Championship. It did not turn out as hoped, we had it as a team sometimes very difficult. But enough has been said about the European Championship. Everyone knows that it was not good enough, now we have to work hard to show better in the following months. Even without the strongholders, I believe that this is possible, it is up to the rest to get up now.” With Smets and Vandevoordt there are two Limburg debutants. Do you, as an experienced rat, have advice for them and for the other newbies? "They should especially enjoy the moment and have fun when they are given minutes. Without too much stress, that doesn't help. For the rest, it is important that they integrate well into the group now, but that will not be a problem. We will make sure they are well received. (smile)” FC LIMBURG - ' s Herenelderen Arjen dal Pozzo (3A) Glenn Neven At tore the anterior cruciate ligaments from his knee. In november, the attacker goes under the knife. He has to rehabilitate for nine months. *** and coach have mutually terminated the cooperation. Sports manager Frank Meubis takes over for the time being. ** The profession of against FC Bolderberg Guido Polus Eendracht Loksbergen-Bokrijk Termien the suspension of was rejected. The defender remains suspended for one game day for a red card. *** The disciplinary committee has decided that the competition in 4A ends at 0-5. The game was called five minutes from time and at a 0-1 score after a third red card for Loksbergen. The player in question (Lismont) is suspended for three playing days. The home team accepts the sanction. Bilal El Khannouss moved from KRC Genk to English side Leicester City last summer, for a reported € 25 million. How do the young Moroccan's entourage look back on his Genk era? ” That period went very well, " says his mother and case officer Karima Ben Aissa. “He has had very good years in the Genk wage service. They gave him a chance and had great faith in him. He also grew up there. They even let him play with back number 10.” Create more minutes The fact that that Genk number 10 would make a transfer abroad at the end of last season was written in the stares. And so it happened: El Khannouss began a new adventure in the Premier League at the end of August with promotion candidate Leicester City. Why choose this club? "Because they count on Bilal and give him playing time. That's very important to us. He needs to be able to accumulate a lot of playing minutes, for two reasons. Firstly, football is his job, and secondly, it is also important for the Moroccan national team. After all, they only select players who get a lot of playing minutes at their club."That the Foxes are counting on El Khannouss became immediately clear. His transfer was made public on 29 August, and barely two days later Leicester coach Steve Cooper let him come on for 22 minutes in the league match against Fulham. Since then, he played a small hour against Everton, but in the last two matches he was barely allowed to substitute for a minute. "But normally he's going to make more minutes," says Karima. "The coach and the management are counting on him. They say he does well in training. He still has to adapt a little to a new competition and to a new life.” A new life in England that El Khannouss doesn't just have to adapt to. His parents moved to Leicester. For him, the adjustment has gone well, for mama Karima it was not always easy. “I had to find a house, and take care of a lot of administrative matters.” Statistics So the start of the season may have been a bit of searching, but what ambitions does the young Moroccan midfielder still have this season? "His goal is to score more and be more decisive. That was another of his lesser points at Genk. In addition, he wants to do his best to make the team finish in the top 10 of the standings at the end of the season.” Due to the international period, the Premier League is now at a standstill for a week, unlike El Khannouss. He will play two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Central African Republic on Saturday and Tuesday with Morocco. “For him, the national football team is very important. Those moments bring happiness to his life. Moreover, I think that after the Interland period he will also get more to play, and maybe even get into the base.”
“I never said I didn’t want to be selected anymore.” Het Belang
van Limburg 9 Oct 2024

The 29-year-old has been in good form for Arsenal this season, contributing two goals and one assist in nine appearances, and is determined to continue that trajectory with Belgium.

“I feel great in my skin,” Trossard said. “I’ve been at Arsenal for two years now, and so far I’ve had pretty consistent performances. The team is also running well at the moment, then it’s easy for me. You can see that on the field.”

After being passed over for Belgium’s recent matches against Israel and France, Trossard took the opportunity to recharge with a short vacation, but he also kept an eye on the national team’s progress. “I took a vacation, but also followed the matches,” he admitted with a laugh, adding that he understood the coach’s decision to give new players a chance.

“He explained to me that he wanted to test new guys, including players who had not done much during the European Championship. I could agree with that explanation, that was the end of the story for me.”

Belgium's Leandro Trossard celebrates after scoring during a friendly match between Belgian national team Red Devils and the national team of Montenegro, at the King Baudouin Stadium, in Brussels, Wednesday 05 June 2024. (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
Belgium’s Leandro Trossard celebrates after scoring during a friendly match between Belgian national team Red Devils and the national team of Montenegro, at the King Baudouin Stadium, in Brussels, Wednesday 05 June 2024. (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

As Belgium prepares for their upcoming fixtures against Italy and France, Trossard is ready to contribute, even as he recognises the challenges of integrating new players into a squad that has undergone significant changes.

With key figures like Kevin De Bruyne injured and Romelu Lukaku out of the national team, Trossard has been seen as a potential leader on and off the pitch.

However, he remains focused on his role rather than filling anyone else’s shoes. “It’s not up to me to take over someone else’s role, I just behave the way I did before,” he said, adding that Youri Tielemans, in his view, would be the natural choice for captaincy.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Leandro Trossard of Arsenal celebrates with teammate Riccardo Calafiori after scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City FC at Emirates Stadium on September 28, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 28: Leandro Trossard of Arsenal celebrates with teammate Riccardo Calafiori after scoring his team’s third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City FC at Emirates Stadium on September 28, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Reflecting on the differences between his club and national duties, Trossard acknowledges that the level of play and the time available for preparation can be quite different. “Too many comparisons are made with how it used to be with the Red Devils,” he said. “We had the Golden Generation, that’s right, but now there are other guys, with their own qualities, so we have to adapt to that too.”

He pointed out that at a club like Arsenal, players have the chance to refine their tactical understanding daily, while international duties often require adapting quickly to new strategies.

As Belgium looks to rebuild after a disappointing European Championship, Trossard’s experience and quality will be crucial for integrating younger talents like Lamine Yamal and offering guidance.

But for Trossard, the focus remains simple: performing at his best, whether for Arsenal or Belgium, and enjoying his football. “I am personally happy to be here, because I want to continue the good line at Arsenal with the Red Devils,” he said.