In the pre-match press conference for Belgium's final group stage match against Ukraine at the UEFA Europa League, Belgian midfielder Onana spoke about the upcoming match and his personal feelings.
When asked about the challenge of club teammate Mikolenko, Onana said that while they are close pals at the club, that friendship will be put on hold for the duration of the match. He is looking forward to the showdown with Mikolenko and wished him luck, but made it clear that they will not be friends for the duration of the 90-minute match.
On whether he would have sympathy for the Ukrainian team facing a team that is going through a war, Onana confessed that he has sympathy for oppressed people across the globe and is pained by any loss to humanity. However, as a professional player, during the tournament he will be focused on the goal of helping his team advance to the eight-team finals.
Speaking about working with teammates such as Mangala or Tilemans, Onana emphasized that he doesn't need to make too many adjustments no matter who he is paired with. He appreciated that both players are world-class and make his job easy, and said he would be happy to play alongside either of them.
Recalling missing the 2022 World Cup against Croatia due to suspension, Onana believes it was an experience that made him grow. He learned from that game and grew in several ways, especially in his ability to read the game significantly.
As for whether he is concerned about the result of Slovakia's match against Romania, Onana said he doesn't want to pay too much attention to it as it might distract them. He emphasized that the goal of the Belgian team is to give their best to win the match and advance.
