Sels: Players looked out for themselves

MATZ Sels has claimed Newcastle players were ‘mostly looking out for themselves’ during his time at St James’ Park.

The goalkeeper was Rafa Benitez’s first signing at the club back in the summer of 2016 and was initially his first-choice goalkeeper after impressing the Spaniard during his time at Gent.

Sels needed time to adapt to life in the Championship, though, and after losing his place in the side following a high-profile error away to Aston Villa, the stopper went on to make just five further appearances for the club, with Karl Darlow playing the bulk of games.

The 26-year-old joined Anderlecht on loan last season before completing a permanent move to Strasbourg in July and has been reflecting on the differences between Gent and Newcastle.

“The change was tough,” he told SoFoot. “I went from a group of friends to a dressing room where players were mostly looking out for themselves. At Anderlecht, too, it was each to their own in a way. My team-mates there were more like colleagues than anything else.”

Sels won the Belgian Pro League title, played in the Champions League during his time at Gent and was voted the country’s best goalkeeper in 2015.

Understandably, the Belgian hoped to return to his homeland on a permanent basis after a seasonlong loan at Anderlecht but the move fell through.

“Sometimes, it’s a question of details: you can be transferred because your agent is friends with the manager of a club,” he said. “It’s a cliche, but when you work hard enough, something opens up. I would have liked to stay, yes, otherwise I wouldn’t have found an agreement with them. It could have worked out if people put a bit of effort in. I know how it works. I need to do my job on the pitch but also play these little games.”