Faes: "Anderlecht watches all my games"

INTERVIEWS - WEBSITE Wout Faes is on a successful loan at Excelsior. Anderlecht-Online had an exclusive interview with the defender. "I work here with a coach who really believes in me and I have already made many steps forward."


Chris Tempelman from Voetbal International told us last week that Faes is developing well at Excelsior. That's why we decided to call Faes ourselves and he wanted to speak to us.

Wout, how are things going at Excelsior? The club is doing well this season.
"Excelsior is the club with the smallest budget from the Eredivisie, but we are now in tenth place. If we win this weekend, we are mathematically certain to stay in the league. Then we can look further and who knows what is left. "

Also for you personally everything goes according to your wishes?
"The season started well. The first four games I was in the starting line-up, but then Jordy de Wijs returned and I lost my place. But I was allowed to play regularly afterwards and that went very well every time. In January, De Wijs got injured and since then I am back in the starting line-up. If you can play every week, you get into a rhythm and your confidence grows. I feel that I am taking steps forward. "

From Chris Tempelman we learned that coach Mitchell van der Gaag is often occupied with you.
"Besides the games I also learn a lot from training. I work here with a coach who really believes in me and is very occupied with me. I feel very good here. I get a lot out of him on training and that is also reflected in the games. Because I learn so much during training, I never thought about leaving in the winter break, even though I often sat on the bench during the first round. "

Does Anderlecht follow your performances in the Netherlands?
"I have regular contact with Gunther Van Handenhoven (the team manager, red.) and sometimes with Jean Kindermans (head of youth academy, red.). Van Handenhoven watches all my games. I have not spoken to Hein Vanhaezebrouck yet. "

Do you already know whether you will return in the summer or whether you will go somewhere else?
"I still have a three-year contract. Hopefully I get my chance during the preparation for the new season and it is up to me to grab this chance. After the season, I will sit together with Anderlecht and my manager to see what is best for my future. "

How do you look at the current developments at Anderlecht where various young players get their chance? Do you regret that you are not here now?
"No, I'm good at Excelsior. Here I can book the progress that is needed. There is less pressure at Excelsior. Here you can make a mistake. I played twelve games in the Eredivisie this season and one in the KNVB Cup. I would not have played so many games at Anderlecht. "

At Excelsior you play in a 4-3-3, Vanhaezebrouck prefers to play with three defenders. Can you play in that system?
"At the Anderlecht youth we often played with three defenders and I also have experience with the Belgian U19. With four or three in the back, that is no problem for me. "

With you, Delcroix, Danté and Bornauw, Anderlecht have four very talented central defenders. Who breaks through first and in a few years will we see an Anderlecht defense that has been completely educated here?
"Haha, whoever breaks first, that will tell the future. And that second: that would be very nice for Anderlecht, but a lot can happen in football. That can not be predicted now. "