The Belgian midfielder of the Blue-White-Sky Blues talked in «The Football Capital» about hockey, his third season in St. Petersburg and the World Cup.
• In St. Petersburg I started going to hockey matches. It’s a shame that in Belgium you can’t go — there just aren’t any good teams. I like the atmosphere in the «Ice Palace». SKA just won the cup and I’ve got say they have really called us to do the same. Now we have to win in our league and then that would be wonderful for the city.
• This season we are closer to the title because everyone is playing in their positions. We’ve been playing more technically and precisely for that reason this is my best season with Zenit. I can be the real Witsel and concentrate on the attack, and that suits me better.
• I had dreamt about the World Cup since I was a kid. Watching it on television and then being on the field. Belgium is a young team and the fact that we made it to the quarter-finals is really good. It’s a shame that we lost in the end, but it’s not a bad experience.
• Out of all of our opponents from the World Cup, Russia was the most difficult. Not just because I play at «Zenit» but because the Russians are very strong tactically.
• My wife and daughter are living in Belgium right now, but they are coming here soon. The birth of my daughter has entirely changed my outlook on life. When you wake up, your first thoughts are about your child. We chose her name according to a book: we didn’t think about it earlier, we just said «Maï-Li» and that was it. When she was born it was a magical moment.
