The Belgian is in the process of imposing himself in Reims and suggests good arrangements and solutions for an increasingly aging central defense of the Devils.
© Provided by Walfoot.be
After beginnings in Anderlecht and a stint in Ostend, Wout Faes continues to progress in Ligue 1, like many Belgians before him (Eden Hazard, Kevin Mirallas, Divock Origi, Michy Batshuayi, Matz Sels,…). Still a scorer this weekend when Reims shared against Brest (1-1), he peaked at 4 league goals this season and is one of the best scorers among central defenders – just behind the Nantes player Andrei Girotto (5 goals). Inheriting the captain’s armband in the absence of Yunis Abdelhamidthe 23-year-old Belgian imposes more and more by his leadership, his determination but also by his assumption of responsibilities, as evidenced by his saving return after Rajkovic’s double save on a penalty he had just conceded and his encouragement towards his goalkeeper and his defense after the latter managed to get free.
???? #AtLaRémoise
???????????????????????? ???????????????????? x ???????????????? ????????????????: a combination that works! 4th assist ???? in 2021-2022 for @Flips_Alexis who offers his Belgian teammate his 4th goal ⚽️ of the season. ????#SDRSB29 #WeAreReims pic.twitter.com/CxRqpgh0i7
— Reims Stadium (@StadeDeReims) February 21, 2022
????⚪️ After Reims – Brest
➡️ Rajkovic’s double stoppage on peno and the solidarity & joy of Stade de Reims players ????????
— Reims VDT (@reimsvdt) February 22, 2022
A timely succession
Holder more than regular with 24 matches played in the league out of the 25 possible, Faes therefore seems to be gradually taking on a new dimension and serves as a rare satisfaction for a Reims team undermined by injuries – his compatriot Thomas Foket or the nugget Hugo Ekitike – and who, for the second consecutive season, is not fighting for a European place but for his maintenance in the elite.
A young player, with a lot of playing time, who is playing in a strong championship and who still has a good margin for improvement, this is not only good news for the Reims club, it is also for Belgian football. and the Red Devils.
It goes without saying that the central defense of our national team is aging and in great need of renewal. Toby Alderweireld is exiled to Qatar, Jan Vertonghen is an indisputable starter at Benfica but is already 34 years old and plays in a championship where only 3 or 4 teams are in the European subtop, Thomas Vermaelen has decided to join the staff of the Devils but will no longer wear the jacket. Add to that a Dedryck Boyata who is already 31 years old, injured, in a gloomy Hertha Berlin and a Jason Denayer he too is on the sidelines, uncertain about his future and who is also coming back only from injury, you don’t have much left in terms of sureties and guarantees, in the short or medium term.
If Faes has not yet had the opportunity to wear the Diables Rouges jacket, he may soon have the opportunity during the friendlies in March since he has already been selected by Roberto Martinez on several occasions. From Zinho Vanheusden, Arthur Theate, Sebastian Bornauw, Elias Cobbaut or Hannes Delcroix could also shine and benefit from the fact that Roberto Martinez is finally becoming aware that our defense is aging and that a wind – coastal and now Champagne in the case of Faes – of freshness is becoming more and more insistent.
© photonews
Faes Wout