Former Manchester United and Aston Villa loanee Ritchie De Laet has admitted that he “didn’t really get his chance in England.”
The Belgian, who was shipped out on loan to A-League side Melbourne City in the Summer Transfer Window was denied any real chance in the Clarets first team under former boss Steve Bruce.
Yet after 2 pre-seasons, one with Aston Villa and one with Melbourne City the defender seems raring to go in the Southern Hemisphere.
As quoted by Birmingham Live, De Laet said this:
It’s been good for me, two pre-seasons really.
I didn’t really get my chance in the UK to go and play football so I was only training there so I came here and got another pre-season into me which really helped getting fit, got a couple of friendlies in and now I’m just excited that the season is close.
Switching Steve Bruce for Warren Joyce seems to be having a great effect on the Belgian born defender, with the pair previously crossing paths on English Shores.
He is still exactly the same, I had him when I was 17 at Antwerp, I’ve had him when I was 19 at Manchester United and I’ve got him now when I’m 29 at Melbourne and he hasn’t changed one bit.
He still does the same training sessions, he’s still as honest as he has been to every player out there, and the only thing that he wants from you is that you put 110% into everything every day on the training pitch and obviously on the match day as well.
After a tough spell in England, where the player bounced from club to club the 6ft 1 defender all the frustration seemed to melt away ahead of the new season with Warren Joyce.
Everyone makes mistakes, you’re a footballer, everyone’s going to make mistakes but as long as you work hard, that’s all he asks of you.
It seems the relationship between player and coach is paying off, with the ‘Sky Blues’ sitting in first place in the A-League with De Laet even scoring; his first goal in over 2 years.
De Laet and co next take on fellow Aston Villa loanee in Ross Mccormack’s Central Coast Mariners on the 27th of October.
