Onana: 'I needed a kick up the backside to get going'

Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana has spoken frankly about the importance of mental health in his career during an interview with Onze Mondial alongside his mental coach Anthony Mette.

Onana admitted past frustrations when he was not selected or when performances fell short, saying: "There was a lot of frustration when I wasn’t playing or when things weren’t going well. Before, now much less because I’ve worked on it. But before, I needed competition, someone to tell me I was no good in an area or that I couldn’t make it."

He described needing "a kick up the backside to get going and put myself in champion mode," adding: "I think that’s something we’ve worked on a lot and it’s much better today."

Anthony Mette supports Onana by anticipating periods of difficulty based on his profile and broader football knowledge. "I anticipate from what I know about Amadou and my overall football knowledge, key periods when he will be under pressure: when there’s a match overload, when it’s cold, when it rains every day, or when there are changes in his personal or family life. And then there are the end-of-seasons."

Mette continued: "I know the events and factors that can lead to fatigue or weariness, which can even result in injury. So we anticipate, we plan ahead, and then I intervene at his request. When he tells me he needs help, I step in and we work together."

The mental aspect is also critical for Belgium’s Red Devils ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For Onana and his teammates, preparation extends beyond the pitch to include mental resilience.

The interview was published as Belgium prepared for their match against New Zealand on 27 June.