De Bruyne Allowed to Miss Belgium’s Next Nations League Game

Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne in action during the UEFA Nations League - Group 4 match between Wales and Belgium in Cardiff, Wales, Britain, 11 June 2022. (EPA)
Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne in action during the UEFA Nations League - Group 4 match between Wales and Belgium in Cardiff, Wales, Britain, 11 June 2022. (EPA)
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De Bruyne Allowed to Miss Belgium’s Next Nations League Game

Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne in action during the UEFA Nations League - Group 4 match between Wales and Belgium in Cardiff, Wales, Britain, 11 June 2022. (EPA)
Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne in action during the UEFA Nations League - Group 4 match between Wales and Belgium in Cardiff, Wales, Britain, 11 June 2022. (EPA)

Kevin De Bruyne is one of three Belgium players given permission to go off early on holiday after their 1-1 draw with Wales on Saturday, coach Roberto Martinez said.

De Bruyne, Yannick Carrasco and Thomas Meunier have all been allowed to skip the last of this month's four Nations League A Group Four matches, which is away against Poland in Warsaw on Tuesday.

"De Bruyne has given enough, so has Carrasco," Martinez said. "Meunier played two games in quick succession after not playing for three months. We can't force anyone."

However, De Bruyne, who had been critical about having to play in the Nations League this month after a long season with Manchester City, said he would have been happy to continue.

"I have played three matches for almost 90 minutes. Physically I am okay and I would have liked to play the last game against Poland, but it is the decision of the coach," he told reporters.

De Bruyne leaves after Belgium let slip a lead in Cardiff and allowed Wales to equalize in the 86th minute.

"It is a pity about the late equalizer," added De Bruyne. "We were in command at the beginning of the second half, but then we forgot to play football. But with all the changes in the team, it was not the worst performance."

"We lacked rhythm and all the players were fatigued, having already played many matches."

Martinez fumed about Wales' late goal, scored by Brennan Johnson and initially flagged offside but then awarded after a lengthy VAR check.

"A shocking decision," said the Belgian coach, adding that VAR wrongly reversed the linesman's decision.

"The lines don't seem to be parallel, the assistant was completely correct. We were robbed," he told Belgium´s VTM television.



Chelsea’s Jackson Must Learn from Red Card, Maresca Says 

Chelsea's Senegalese striker #15 Nicolas Jackson reacts as he leaves the pitch after receiving a red card following a tackle on Newcastle United's Dutch defender #04 Sven Botman during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, northeast England on May 11, 2025. (AFP) 
Chelsea's Senegalese striker #15 Nicolas Jackson reacts as he leaves the pitch after receiving a red card following a tackle on Newcastle United's Dutch defender #04 Sven Botman during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, northeast England on May 11, 2025. (AFP) 
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Chelsea’s Jackson Must Learn from Red Card, Maresca Says 

Chelsea's Senegalese striker #15 Nicolas Jackson reacts as he leaves the pitch after receiving a red card following a tackle on Newcastle United's Dutch defender #04 Sven Botman during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, northeast England on May 11, 2025. (AFP) 
Chelsea's Senegalese striker #15 Nicolas Jackson reacts as he leaves the pitch after receiving a red card following a tackle on Newcastle United's Dutch defender #04 Sven Botman during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, northeast England on May 11, 2025. (AFP) 

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said forward Nicolas Jackson must learn from his mistakes after his red card in Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Newcastle United left the London side without a striker to lead the line for the final two games of the season.

The 23-year-old was sent off in the 36th minute, following a VAR review, for serious foul play and will miss Chelsea's home game against Manchester United on Friday and the trip to Nottingham Forest on May 25.

"I didn't speak to Nico, it's not the moment. We will speak in the next day. No doubt he has to learn from it, especially at this stage of the season," Maresca told reporters.

"You have to avoid this kind of thing. You need all your squad available. It happened, and he will be out. Hopefully he can learn for the future."

With Christopher Nkunku still sidelined with injury and Marc Guiu not yet fully fit, Maresca has a shortage of attacking options for the run-in.

"Jackson is our nine, the other one is Marc Guiu, who has been injured for three months and is close to being back," added Maresca. "We need to find a different solution."

Chelsea are fifth, which would be good enough to qualify for next season's Champions League, but with Aston Villa below them only on goal difference and Nottingham Forest just a point behind, Maresca is feeling the heat.

"My feeling is you need to win both games (to qualify for the Champions League)," he said of their final two fixtures.