Riemer: "Stroeykens can become defining player"

INTERVIEWS At his press conference, Brian Riemer said he is very happy that Mario Stroeykens has extended his contract with Anderlecht. "Mario is the future of this club," the coach said. "The important thing now is to find the perfect role for him in the team."

"Last season we used Mario several times as number nine. Among others at Seraing, where he scored the winning goal. He can do that, although I think Mario is more of a pocket player than a true number nine. If you have wingers going a lot deep, you can indeed use Mario as a deep striker."

"We are so happy that Mario has signed a new contract with us. We must not forget that he is still very young, he is still a teenager. We know we have to be patient with him. But because he came so fast, sometimes you tend to think that he should already be further along in his development. Theo Leoni is a good example of what patience can do."

"As for Mario, it's now a matter of finding the perfect role for him in the team. And for him to add those final points to his game. In a way, he has to become even more decisive."

"For me, he really is the future of this club. I really see him becoming a decisive player in the future. Currently, he is lucky to have experienced players with about the same profile, such as Hazard and Amuzu, playing with him. He can learn from them. That is one of the advantages of our current core: there are many good teachers to give advice to the young players and push them forward at training."

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