Coach Philippe Clement saw that a 3-3 draw at Anderlecht was enough for Club to secure a seventeenth title. Becoming champion back to back with Club Brugge as coach is a very exceptional feat.
"It has been a special season. After a championship year it is always more difficult, in sharpness often with players. It has been forty-three years since Club Brugge played champion twice in a row. This is only the second time in Club's history. That also shows how difficult it has been, even with the fantastic squads Blauw-Zwart has had. The year without supporters, which is certainly a disadvantage with our fan base. And then that COVID story a few months ago. There are some guys who are not yet at their top level as before. It's been hard work getting them back to level and putting the right players at the right times. But the guys did a great job. You couldn't tell after the match who was on the field or in the stands. Everyone is super happy, I am incredibly proud of my players and my staff who worked hard last season.
Club started without deep striker Dost, but this proved to be a good approach in this match. "I don't have to prove myself right. The boys filled in very well. Bas Dost had weaker forces after several tough matches one after another. We had to find another solution, Noa and Charles did this well with the rest of the team."
Clement, meanwhile, already picked up thirteen awards. "I hope many more may come, that's what you do it for. To be able to celebrate with the boys together, the happy faces of the staff, the board and the supporters also normal. Two titles in a row and not being able to celebrate this with your supporters. This is a bummer somewhere, those people have also been important in recent years. Last season there were expressions of support on the streets instead of the stadium."
Philippe Clement will certainly enjoy this well-deserved title. "After a previous title with another team, I learned to enjoy it. So I will definitely do that, I know how hard it has been to accomplish to play champion two years in a row. It's not for nothing that it only worked out once with all the fantastic generations Club has had. The boys and my staff worked hard all season. I'm super proud of them." (KN)