‘It’s always difficult when they make you the next Messi’: Thorsten Fink defends teenage star Konstantinos Karetsas | OneFootball

Over the past 12 months there has been a lot of hype surrounding the emergence of Greek teenager Konstantinos Karetsas, and rightly so. The Genk midfielder put in some eye catching performances for both club and country since making his senior debut in the Belgian Pro League and looks set to be the next big prospect coming out of the club. However, he has struggled to have as big an impact this season, leading to some questions around his form ahead of Genk’s clash with Real Betis in the Europa League. With injuries to others, Karetsas looks set to start out wide.

Speaking to the press ahead of the game, Genk head coach Thorsten Fink was quick to remind everyone that Karetsas is only 17. Fink said ‘He’s still only seventeen. Football isn’t a beach, it’s a mountain. Things can’t always go your way‘. The German head coach also went on to say ‘Kos came into the spotlight at sixteen . It’s always difficult when they make you the next Messi’. Fink clearly believes that Karetsas will be fine this season, saying that the midfielder looked focused in training. It hasn’t helped that Genk as a side have also been underperforming compared to last season.

Lats season Karetsas played 39 games for Genk, with three goals and three assists. So far this season he has made nine appearances with one assist and is still searching for his first goal of the campaign.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson