Blauw-Zwart's championship title obviously caused huge scenes of joy at Jan Breydel. We gathered reactions from Brandon Mechele, Andreas Skov Olsen, Maxim De Cuyper, Denis Odoi, Michiel Jonckheere and Vincent Mannaert.
Brandon Mechele: "I could cry"
With six titles to his name, Brandon Mechele outdoes a number of Club legends, such as Franky Van der Elst. The wall-to-wall smile on Club's youth product's face spoke volumes. "Wow, I could cry because this means a lot to me. That both Hans Vanaken and myself are now recordholders is just amazing. What am I saying? It's downright fantastic, I have no words for it. And this as a true Club man, in my veins flows blue-black blood, I really can't grasp it yet. At the start of the playoffs, nobody thought we would take that title today. But we looked at it one game at a time and we did it. Where do I place this title? For me, the title with Ivan Leko is probably the most beautiful of all, but this one comes perhaps second, because it was completely unexpected. Nevertheless, this title tastes very sweet because it also happened in the Bruges city derby, which makes this that much more special for true Bruges citizens. You know, on this occasion I also don't want to forget and thank Ronny Deila in the celebrations. Unfortunately things went wrong for our previous coach but he too has his merits. On the other hand, Nicky has been dotting the i's and crossing the t's from his first day as T1. Whether I will be celebrating now? I'll just let it all come to me for now but I have a hunch there will be a drink tonight." (MV)
Andreas Skov Olsen: "My heart was almost pounding out of my chest."
Just after Club Brugge added a nineteenth title to its list of honours, an over the moon Andreas Skov Olsen got to speak to the assembled press. "I am really still shaking with emotion and relief, I jumped a hole in the air when the referee concluded the game. Before the start of the playoffs we would never have dared to dream such a scenario but the title is ours. It is really unbelievable that we pulled this one off. But if you see how we went through these playoffs, I think this title is well-deserved. It was not a good game from our side, mainly because we played along with Cercle Brugge and were unable to play our own game enough. This is to the credit of the fellow-Bruges citizens that made it difficult for us, but a point was enough to be able to celebrate. I am very proud of what we achieved. When the referee started looking at the screen in that VAR situation, my heart almost pounded out of my chest. The wait was really terrible but at the final decision there was great relief for everyone."
Skov Olsen was also asked about Nicky Hayen's contribution to this title. "Before going into that, I still want to thank our previous coach Ronny Deila for the work he did here. He too has merit in this title because he laid the foundations for the remainder of the season. But of course we cannot ignore the importance of Nicky Hayen. In his own way, he has moulded the group to his will and made us play even better football both individually and as a team."
When asked whether he will still be in Belgium next season, the winger held his cards to his chest. "I love being here in Bruges and next season will be another Champions League campaign for Club. Let me first live through these first emotions and wait and see whether I can go to the Euros or not. Only then will we see what the future will have in store for me." (MV)
Maxim De Cuyper: "Nobody saw us as a title contender"
It still needed to sink in with Maxim De Cuyper that club had just made it to another league win. But the relief after the match really delighted the youngster.
"It's a dream, I don't think I fully realize it just yet. I'm still pretty quiet at the moment actually, last week at Anderlecht I was more euphoric. But I'm sure it will sink in soon. Such a release, you can't believe it. I still remember the first title after eleven years, I didn't even have a ticket to get into the stadium back then. That atmosphere I saw then was unseen. And then you experience it yourself, it's just the best feeling I've ever had. We came from far and nobody saw us as title contenders. And on the final match day, we got it in our own hands and could wrap it up. We weren't concerned with the title, we were taking it one game at a time. Especially with those European nights in between as a change. If you win against Anderlecht, then you know you are really competing. The reception of the players was already exceptional. It's hard to describe. It gives such an adrenaline boost, it's indescribable. It really does you good. Now I'll be celebrating this so much that I won't be able to chat anymore."
The disallowed goal did cause a bit of a scare. "I hadn't seen that offside, to my feeling I thought it was goal. Fortunately, we have VAR and in the end it was turned out to be offside. It was just so tense to be waiting during that review. The pitch is not a happy place in such a moment." (KN)
Denis Odoi: "I mostly feel relief"
Denis Odoi was the match winner against Anderlecht last week, playing an important part in Club Brugge's title.
"I mainly feel relief," were the Ghanaian Belgian's first words. "Last year was exciting, even if we couldn't become champions then, but today it was a little different. In that particular situation I really thought the ball was over the goal line, but well, you never know. At that moment I really thought we had lost the title, but then it turned out that a Cercle player was in offside position at the free kick, so it remained 0-0. It did take a very long time for the decision to come, which made me think that the goal would be validated after all. And especially when Mr. Lardot himself went to look, but fortunately for us it turned out to be offside after all."
"The crowd and the celebration when we arrived with the players' bus impressed me. So many people and all that smoke and fireworks, I love that. The atmosphere was very good before the game and as a player you naturally want to do something in return. The first half I thought we played fine football, but after that it was a lot less. Since Cercle was also satisfied with a point there wasn't much more to do at the end. We actually didn't play a very good game because I think too many players stayed below their level today, but of course the end result is just fantastic. That, because the supporters came running onto the pitch after the final whistle, we were not able to do a lap of honor is unfortunate, but I also understand their reaction, because it has been a long and difficult season for them too." (FDC)
Michiel Jonckheere: "The boys continued to fight for each other."
With Nicky Hayen out suspended, assistant Michiel Jonckheere had to do the honors. "I'm not the type of person who shows his emotions easily. Immediately after the final whistle, there was decompression. It was a nervous game and when VAR intervened I literally instantly aged ten years. That we delivered the most unforeseen remontada in the history of the playoffs really says it all. So based on the past playoffs, this title is well deserved. But it all still has to sink in with me, I'm going to have to recover from this for a few days".
"In all the celebrations I don't want to forget Ronny Deila because his merit should not be swept underestimated. So we did not throw everything overboard. But on the other hand, with the current coaching staff, we immediately brought the necessary clarity and created a group feeling so that the boys continued to run and fight for each other. From the second half against Cercle on the opening day of playoffs, we got into a certain flow and we haven't let up, with this title and the accompanying ticket to the Champions League as a result. Finally, I would also like to dedicate this title to the people of KV Ostend (the team just went bankrupt, edit). What happened to them touches me very heavily." (MV)
Vincent Mannaert: "This is a day never to forget."
Vincent Mannaert could not have wished for a better farewell at Club. After a beautiful tribute at the start of the match, Blauw-Zwart took their sixth title in Vincent's final season at Club Brugge.
"I took a while to let it sink in. I don't think I will ever get closer to a more perfect day in my life. This is an unforgettable farewell, an appreciation from the whole Club, fans, players, staff, employees and management that I will continue to cherish until my last day. Of course then you hope to also win the title and we did. That is phenomenal. People had kept that tifo a pretty good secret. I knew something was about to happen at kickoff. But a tifo of such dimensions I didn't expect. I have to thank everyone who helped with that. That is unforgettable. I was overwhelmed when I stepped off the pitch; I am usually very rational by nature. But this was of such warmth that it made me emotional. This is a day never to be forgotten."
"Passing on Club like this to my successors is part of doing a good job. But now the foundations are laid. The new management is doing an excellent job and making the right choices. There are many reasons to be confident of a bright future starting next season. The team that succeeds me is doing an excellent job and I am confident that they will make the right decisions. I also know those people and have worked with them for years. If there is anything they want to know, they can always come to me as well. I have every confidence that they will continue the development they have already gone through now, and this Club Brugge with this team, perhaps supplemented by other people, is armed to do very well in the further years."
"What the future holds? The very near future is a celebration, after that I will take the time to enjoy and rest. Then we will see, nothing is urgent. I will let the summer pass and then I will make the right choices." (KN)