Belgian defender Jérémy Doku attended a press conference at the national team training camp. The defender, who has yet to feature in this FIFA World Cup due to injury, spoke about his experience during the tournament.

Jérémy, how was the MRI result on Saturday? How are you feeling?

Hello. First, the test results are positive and everything is progressing as planned. So we're all optimistic. I'm feeling good today, I was able to participate in part of the team training, and everything has been going well so far.

Hello, what do you think about Senegal, our next opponent? And how do you assess the teams' performances in the FIFA World Cup so far?

I think Senegal is a very good team. They're physically and technically strong, and they won the Africa Cup of Nations. I think it will be a very interesting match, and I know we have our strengths. If we maintain good form and continue the positive performance we showed in our last match, it will be a high-quality game.

What was it like yesterday? Match results were announced one by one, and you couldn't know your opponent until the very last moment. How did that feel?

What I don't understand is why we had to wait so long to find out who our opponent was. Yes, it felt a bit strange, but now we know it's Senegal, and I think we have three days to prepare for this match. I know Senegal is a very strong opponent and an excellent challenge, so we'll do our best to prepare.

Jérémy, how are you personally experiencing this tournament? You could have been playing from the start—do you feel frustrated, or are you happy to be part of the squad?

To be honest, I'm not frustrated. I'm very happy and grateful to be able to be here and to be part of the team. Of course, it's not easy spending time in the gym every day while my teammates are playing and training on the pitch, but I'm approaching it with a positive attitude. As I said, I'm grateful to be here and to be working toward my return. So overall, my feelings are still very positive.

What exactly happened during that training session? Did you immediately realize it could affect your participation? What match are you now targeting for your return?

Yes, to be honest, that was my first thought at the time. It was especially difficult to think that way when I got the test results. But from the first day I learned about the situation, I approached it with a positive attitude and started working toward this moment of return. What was your second question again?

What exactly happened? Were you sprinting, or were you shooting?

No, it happened at the end of the training session during set-piece work when I was striking the ball. It was an awkward and frustrating moment, but it just happened.

So, regarding your return match—how far would Belgium need to go in the tournament for you to have hope of playing?

I can't give you an exact date right now. In my view, I'm working day by day based on how I feel. I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself. As you know, I've had several setbacks due to injury this season. Now I want to stay as healthy as possible and give 100% when I play. I believe I can only help the team when I'm at 100%. So...

Your family is here too. Is this frustrating for them? Did they come knowing you might not play, or are they planning to stay long? How do they feel about it?

Of course, they would definitely prefer to see me playing on the pitch. But after being apart for a few weeks, just being able to see them means so much. They gave me tremendous support during those difficult weeks. So it's really good to be with them.

Do you feel the urge to rush your return for the FIFA World Cup and take risks? Or are the doctors telling you to be patient and that there's no need to take risks?

To be honest, if it were up to me, I'd be out on the pitch tomorrow. I definitely want to play, train, and be part of the team. But as I just said, I've had a difficult season marred by injuries. So the most important thing for me is to regain 100% fitness. I believe that's when I can truly help the team and myself. Considering the rest of this tournament and the start of next season, I think that's what matters most to me.

You said you can't set a return date without putting pressure on yourself, but the Senegal match is coming up soon. Do you think there's a chance you could play, or could you come on as a substitute for a few minutes? Or is the timeline too tight right now?

We'll have to wait and see. Today was the first time I participated partially in team training, so I'll see how it feels and monitor it day by day.

But even with some risk, would you and the doctors decide not to take any risks, not even for a single minute?

It depends on what the doctors say and how I feel today. We'll see when we get there.

Jérémy, have you watched a lot of matches with the team? The group stage is over and every nation has played three matches. What have you observed? What lessons have you learned for the matches ahead?

In this FIFA World Cup, I think any team can beat any opponent. Every team on the World Cup stage is very strong, and I think anything can happen.

Hello, the Belgian defense is often criticized. As a defender watching from the stands now, what's your take? Especially seeing Brandon Mechele performing very well, Nathan Aké displaying excellent form, and Axel Witsel making the starting lineup—how do you assess them as a defender?

I'm very satisfied with their performances. So far we haven't lost a match, so I think everything is going well. Everyone is working very hard, and everyone analyzes every stage before and after the match. So my feeling is very positive.

Were you surprised by Brandon Mechele's late emergence on the international stage?

Not surprised at all. Brandon Mechele has been with us for quite a while. He performs very well in training too. So I wasn't surprised at all. He's a strong player with very solid defending and very intelligent. He's a huge asset to the team.

During the matches, you've mostly been on the bench. How have you experienced all of this? Has the coach made every effort to integrate you into the team?

Yes, I actually think that's a positive thing. I prefer to sit on the bench with everyone rather than in the stands alone. So experiencing the match this way is really good and makes me feel closer to the team. So it's very positive.

One more question. Are you in contact with your club? Have they warned you not to take risks since you need to be healthy when you return to training after the break?

Yes, of course we're in contact with the club and everyone. I think the most important thing is transparency, and the doctors communicate daily—the communication is very smooth. So for me, this rehabilitation work and the communication here is very important. To be honest, there's still a lot of good work to be done, so while I can't play right now, I want to get back on the pitch as soon as possible, and that's what I'll be working toward going forward.

AI 번역.

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