Rudi García defends De Bruyne, tells critic to swallow his pen

At a press conference today, Belgium national team coach Rudi García erupted at a journalist who had labelled 35‑year‑old Kevin De Bruyne a has‑been, defending the midfielder after the Red Devils’ recent draw against Iran. He warned the reporter to swallow his pen, insisting the criticism was misplaced.

Rudi García, the head coach of Belgium, addressed the media in a formal briefing following the team's stalemate with Iran. He positioned himself as the defender of his squad against external commentary.

The journalist had previously described De Bruyne as a has‑been, a term García could not accept. He highlighted that such a label ignored the midfielder’s ongoing contributions.

“​There is only one person at this table who said that. He must feel addressed,” García said, pointing directly at the reporter. He added that the journalist clearly did not understand who Kevin De Bruyne is, calling him a monument in football.

García argued that De Bruyne had already answered the criticism through his performances on the pitch. “​The answer is given on the field; then the journalist must swallow his pen,” he declared.

The coach explained his broader duty to shield his players from media turbulence after the Iran draw. He said his role is to act as a shield, preventing attacks on players of such caliber.

He told the squad to keep their heads clear, urging them not to read or listen to external noise. “​Don’t let your mind be messed up,” García instructed, emphasizing focus over speculation.

The stark contrast between media criticism and García’s protective stance underscores the coach’s commitment to safeguarding his star midfielder from public scrutiny. It signals that future commentary will likely be filtered through the national team’s internal shield.