Ivan Leko: "Absolutely a deserved win."
"I feel good," the Bruges coach began his account. "It's been some time since we were in the lead, so that's nice. I think it was definitely a deserved win, but the result(1-3) maybe doesn't really show how much better we actually were. We were much closer to 0-4 or 0-5 than the final 1-3. We showed aggressiveness, wanted to take control of the game and dominate. We especially wanted to put the ball in the last third of the field and then make sure there were a lot of infield players and overlaps. In the first 20 minutes of the match, I thought we played a very strong start to the match that way. We got to 0-1 pretty early and actually had to get to 0-2 soon after that. So overall I'm very satisfied, but we also know that there are still four games to play. We did our thing and now tonight we have to enjoy that for a while. From tomorrow morning the preparation for our next home game(Saturday against STVV) starts immediately."
Ivan Leko was very angry at the setback, though. "I was indeed very dissatisfied, because you can't swallow a goal against in that way. You can't be so naive to lose the ball in that place. After all, you know in soccer that everything can change after one action. Then they had that chance(from Huerta) where our goalkeeper had a topsave in. If you would swallow another goal there, suddenly it becomes exciting after all. In soccer, it is important the better you are, the more humble you should also be. If you don't show respect, for example, you will be punished anyway. That was why I was angry at that moment. However, the main feeling after tonight remains pride in my team and everything we are doing. You feel that pressure every day when you're chasing and you can't allow yourself to make a misstep. However, we have been in this business long enough to know that soccer is dynamic. Today is like that and starting tomorrow there is a new day. We will do everything we can to have the same feeling next Saturday after the game."
Union and Club are competing for the title, but STVV is also doing extremely well. "After us, I think STVV is the best footballing team in Belgium. They are the second best attacking team in Belgium. They have automatisms, a good coach, a lot of movement and good players. We sometimes forget that this "small" team still had names like Kamada, Tomiyasu and Endo playing. So Japan provides good players and at STVV there is just a mix of everything. I love watching them, so Saturday will be another interesting match against them. So we know well what kind of team we are playing against, but now we also need to enjoy ourselves and let the emotions out and recharge again. From tomorrow then all focus to Saturday," concluded a satisfied Ivan Leko.
Christos Tzolis: "It was a top performance from us"
Once again, the Man of the Match trophy went to a Club player. Christos Tzolis played a thumper of a match at Lotto Park and saw it rewarded with the trophy of MVP.
"I also want to congratulate the team on these three points. It was a top performance from us which puts us in the lead. Now the important thing is to maintain that position. We are playing three matches in our own stadium. We are playing with confidence."
Tzolis could have scored more goals, but Coosemans, among others, prevented him from scoring the 0-2. "I realize I should have scored more. We could have been more efficient, but the three points are the most important thing. We have to build on this to finish those last four matches. I'm focusing on myself to get better. We are now going to prepare for the next match to put in another good performance there as well."
The entire team played a good match and Tzolis was clearly set up with that. "I am very happy with the performance of the whole team. We could have scored 3-4 more goals."
Hugo Vetlesen: "The coach gives us a lot of confidence."
The win in and against Anderlecht puts Club in the lead of the standings, something that clearly pleased Hugo Vetlesen. "We played strongly, we play exactly better every match. We are now in the lead and that feels good. We could have scored more, even in the first half already. In the second half we could have even scored four more times if you review the chances."
Anderlecht was able to score after a mistake by the midfielder. "I want to find a footballing solution, but I lose the ball. That's unfortunate, but we saved it. Our goalkeeper also made a very good save, but we got the points and that's the main thing."
He also heaped praise on coach Ivan Leko : "You notice he has a lot of experience, he steers us. For example, at halftime he talked about the importance of keeping our positions, but he also stressed that we had to push on, that we should not rest on our laurels. He gives us a lot of confidence."
Vetlesen received a yellow card and therefore misses next weekend's match against STVV.
Hans Vanaken: "We are very close to our best level, but we also have to learn to manage those last 20 minutes."
Blauw-Zwart moves into the lead of the Champions Play-Offs thanks to a 1-3 win at Lotto Park. For captain Hans Vanaken, it was his 560th match in the shirt of Club Brugge.
"Almost had the assist of the season." he smiled bared his teeth "It was a hunch of the moment. Now it worked, only Tzolis failed to finish it off. That was a shame in itself, because it would have been a nice goal if the ball had gone against the nets." Club could have finished it faster all the way and put a bigger score on the board. We also have to take those moments. We had chances enough to score many more. Among others, Tzolis and Vermant still had chances one-on-one with the goalkeeper."
Blauw-Zwart immediately took control of the match and again scored the opening goal early on. "We are very close to our best level, but we also have to learn to manage those last 20 minutes. After 80 minutes we should actually be 0-5 ahead. Now that counter goal still comes and it becomes another nervous ending, which was actually totally unnecessary."