Brandon Mechele: "Not efficient enough"
Club Brugge seemed to be heading for a home defeat for a long time but in the closing stages Brandon Mechele proved to be the savior once again : "It was a good corner from Jashari and I run where I have to run. This is my zone and this is where I'm strongest, that's how I managed to score a few anyway," the Breden native said in a first reaction. "But we wanted more and also deserved more because especially in possession of the ball, we were the better team. However, it was important to constantly watch out for their switch. Anyway, this is another story of our season where we are too inefficient in both boxes. We gave away the goal too easily, while we couldn't score a second goal ourselves. In the end we have to be satisfied with that point and we also have to thank Simon because with two excellent saves he saved us from defeat.
When asked whether European soccer leaves its mark, the central defender deliberately kept his answer very neutral: "Union also had to play midweek, so this excuse should apply to both teams. It's just a matter of turning the knob and going full throttle. And those who are tired should say so in advance and make it clear, our core is already big enough." (MV)
Ardon Jashari: "We lost two points."
Club again had to be satisfied with a one point at home against Union. Ardon Jashari was again allowed to start in the starting line-up, but was clearly disappointed with the 1-1 afterwards. "We lost two points," were the Swiss's first words. "We were in control of the entire match. If I'm not mistaken we had 70% possession of the ball so we were clearly in control of the game. Before halftime we had two crystal clear chances, but despite that it remained 0-0 at halftime. Even after halftime we remained in control, but then suddenly the 0-1 fell out of the blue. That meant we had to go on the attack with more men from then on, and fortunately we were able to score the equalizer. We remained patient, but kept putting them under pressure. I do have to admit that we couldn't create many chances, but I think we still need to do a better job of exploiting the spaces that were there. Zaid Romero came up well a few times and it was clear that Union didn't really have an answer to that, we may have to make more use of that in the future. And yes, we know that we're leaving too many open chances at the moment, but that will come good in the future I think." (FDC)
Simon Mignolet: "We take too few points"
The duel between Club and Union was a rather close game and the 1-1 was therefore more or less a just result. According to Simon Mignolet, it was mainly a story of efficiency. "If you see everything in context, I think in the first half we had good control of the game," Mignolet began his press talk. "We certainly had the chance to get ahead 1-0, but unfortunately the opening goal didn't fall. Then in the second half we were unfortunate with that early goal and then of course you end up in a situation where you have to go all out and Union was able to play its favorite game. We then fortunately scored the 1-1 on a stoppage time, but then Union got two more chances on the counter, but fortunately I was able to catch those two balls and the 1-1 stayed on the board. We now play two draws, namely at Charleroi and at home against Union and if you see it in its context it is twice a point won, but at home at Jan Breydel you always have to take the three points. Our soccer was certainly not bad, but you play against a block and then you have to wait patiently to find a hole and find the free man, but then you have to score of course. Indeed, we have too few points for the game we delivered, but for now we are picking up too few points." (FDC)
Nicky Hayen: "We are left with a sour feeling"
Club Brugge stuck at a 1-1 draw against Union. Blauw-Zwart went all out in the closing stages to get the winning goal, but had to settle for a point in the end. "We started the first ten minutes well," said coach Nicky Hayen. "Our ball circulation was okay, but then the tempo went down. We played too much into their pressing, but you see when you change sides, you can create danger. So that chance on the half-hour always had to go in. After halftime their first shot on goal did go in and then you know you have to go full steam ahead. We tried to play a little more attacking after that. Through a stoppage time we equalized and then we put a lot of pressure forward. We tried to pick up the pace, but all in all we played backwards too often. If you always let two or three seconds pass between attack and play-in pass, then the opponent can organize themselves. It was just too little to get the winning goal. So you get stuck with a draw and are left with a sour feeling." Blauw-Zwart thus counts 15 out of 30 after ten playing days. "For Club Brugge, you know this is not enough. The game has to improve and the players have to raise their level. We have to work on that every day. Whether I will ask for an extra striker during the winter break? We will discuss that internally. With Nilsson still out and Vermant dropping out with fever in extremis, the flush up front was very thin. Hopefully Nilsson will be there again next game. It is a difficult injury, but it is a matter of days before he can resume. He certainly won't be out of contention for weeks."