Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi says playing for his national team comes as a breath of fresh air because he feels he is not trusted at club side Crystal Palace.
Batshuayi scored the opening goal for Belgium as they hammered Belarus 8-0 in their World Cup qualifier in Leuven on Tuesday and told reporters afterwards the contrast of playing for club and country was stark.
“I get a breath of renewed energy when I come into the national team, because it’s very hard for me at my club,” he said.
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“The club and the national team are different. The coach, the team members and the system are different from that at Palace.
“With the Red Devils, I feel a lot of trust from the coach; trust that I do not get there (at Palace). With (Roberto) Martinez, we talk to each other a lot, even when I’m back at my club. I give 200% not to disappoint him.”
The 27-year-old has scored 22 goals in 33 internationals for Belgium but in the Premier League this season has netted only once, starting seven of Palace’s league games.
He is on loan at Selhurst Park from Chelsea, who signed him from Marseille for a reported fee of €39 million (£33.2m / $45.74m) in 2016 but has since been loaned to Borussia Dortmund, Valencia and then Palace.
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