Hans Vanaken: "Title has to come back to Bruges next season"

"You can hardly find the words for this, up until minute 80 they were still champions", Club's Limburg legend started out. "While they were on the lookout for their second goal, that equaliser fell, and that proved too tough a blow for them. In the end we managed to add two more, which doesn't take anything away from the fact Union has had a hell of a season. I told them so straight after the final whistle. It's mere coincidence that we keep them from the title two seasons in a row. There were three candidates for the win on the final matchday, and you just knew it would be some crazy final minutes. Apparently it was only in minute 93 that the title went to Antwerp again. When you're at the top of the table at the end of the play-offs, you deserve to be champions. But I can imagine this is really sour on the players and fans of Union."

When asked whether the Club fans could live with Antwerp winning it in the end, Club's two-fold Golden Boot winner was neutral: "I'm not sure where the hatred between the two supporter groups is coming from, and as a player you just don't take it into account. We are professional players, and it should always be the intention to try and win a game. Today we managed to do so, allowing us to finish this season on a positive note."

Vanaken had some words of praise for the youngsters coming on in the end: "They already showed they have qualities in 1B and they showed it again tonight on the highest level. Shion Homma came on really well, with a goal and an assist to his name, while Cisse Sandra also tapped one in. It just goes to show that they have been taking the necessary steps to make it, and that we can count on them. We will be needing them, as the title should go to Bruges again next season", Club's skipper concluded. (MV)