Hans Vanaken: Efficiency in both penalty areas remains a working point.
The defeat might have turned out differently had Club been able to capitalize on the strong first ten minutes. Captain Hans Vanaken also started the match strongly. "Our first ten minutes were really very good. Of course you don't know if you would also win if you finish a chance there, but it would obviously help. You have to take those moments at this level. From those first two chances, one actually has to go against the nets and then you get a different dynamic" he gave his account of Club's strong start.
The red card for Onyedika obviously changed a lot about the game picture. "After the 1-0 and the red card, of course, you get a completely different match. We kept believing in it though, because already in the first half we noticed that there were possibilities. Kyriani Sabbe's goal proved that as well. It is unfortunate that afterwards we had to swallow two more goals."
It seems to be the story of the first matches this season: creating chances and yet not scoring. "It is also the case in the league so far: efficiency in both penalty areas. It remains a working point and especially if you want to win matches like this one at this level."
Kyriani Sabbe: "It has been difficult mentally".
Goalkeeper Sabbe started this match on the bench and was able to compile his analysis of the first half from there. "I think we started the match well, with good chances for Ordoñez and Tzolis. Unfortunately for us the ball didn't go in and for them it did." Even after AC Milan's opening goal, Sabbe remained hopeful. "We stayed well in block, but then that red card falls right after the opening goal and then you know it's going to be difficult."
At halftime Sabbe was allowed to fill in and he immediately rewarded coach Hayen's confidence with a goal. "Scoring a goal is nice. I just played my own game. Even with the deficit, I kept fighting, because we especially didn't want to let the score go up either with an eye on possible qualification." The goal is certainly nice for Sabbe, but he is especially happy to be back playing soccer. "It has been very difficult for me mentally. My injury was a tough period, so I'm especially happy that I can play soccer again now. I have always continued to work hard on my return and then it will come."
Simon Mignolet: "After the 1-1, though, you felt the batteries drained
Club Brugge went down 3-1 tonight on a visit to AC Milan. Despite a strong start, the home side still took the lead through a so-called Olympic goal. A visibly disappointed Mignolet looked back on the defeat at San Siro. "The ball goes over Jutgla and Vanaken. Morata then blocks Hans as well. Something like that is very difficult to defend. We knew they are good on stoppages, they also have their stature with them."
Despite the setback, Blauw-Zwart straightened its back. "Even with ten against eleven we went for it and scored the nice 1-1. That was very positive, but then they can bring in two, three fresh players who can make the difference and you see how strong they are in width." Midfielder Reijnders managed to score two more goals afterwards. "On that second goal Maxim and I obstructed each other, I think. The footage will tell, but to my feeling we both went for the ball and it just shot between the two of us. In the end, it could have been worse in terms of goals against, but fortunately nothing more happened. The goal difference can still be important at the end."
Onyedika was sent off the field with a red card. Blue-Black, however, still tried to make something of it. "We kept fighting with our chest forward and kept going for it." said the Blue-Black goalie. The substitute Sabbe managed to score the equalizer after a very nice attack. "After the 1-1, however, you felt the batteries drained. They could then bring in extra quality. In itself we can be proud of how we presented ourselves, but you have to finish your chances at this level. Those are the steps we still have to take. It is not illogical that there is a difference between Milan and us, that is nothing to be ashamed of. We were the equal at eleven against eleven, but if you don't grab your moments, you can get caught in the knife-edge."
Nicky Hayen: "Learning to be more clinical"
Blue-Black started the confrontation with AC Milan strongly, but eventually had to give way, losing 3-1. Coach Hayen therefore had a double feeling afterwards.
"Same old story? I think this is the right conclusion," the coach began his account. "We present ourselves in a very good way. We get chances to take the lead and it was deserved at that point. Then Simon Mignolet first keeps us straight with that ball from Pulisic, but then a corner kick goes in in a very stupid way. Then you're behind again." Onyedika picked up a red card shortly before halftime. "I haven't seen the phase back yet, but I heard opinions are divided. He goes for the ball, but apparently it's still a pretty heavy foul. In the end, it's something that tilts the match and makes you have to change your game plan. Until the 60th minute, that worked out pretty well, but then they score the 2-1. Then we foul for the 3-1 and then you have to try to hold on to the result to avoid worse."
After the break, coach Hayen made a double change. "We strengthened our midfield at that point, because with Hernández they had someone who was going to play on the inside anyway. So the main goal was to close down the center, so they had to go through the flanks. I think up until that 2-1 it was also very good. However, then you get the second goal and ten minutes later the third goal and then you feel that the batteries are empty anyway. Then you try to change, but then you're also playing against a team that has a lot of qualities. They try to lure us out of our organization and then they become very dangerous. We managed that well for the first sixty minutes, but in the last half hour it was just too much. "Milan finally made the difference with their substitutions. "They are the best substitutions they could do and it's as simple as that. I think the crowd was not really happy with Leão's substitution. However, when you see what quality they could bring in at that point, I don't even want to talk about tactics. Then it's just quality, speed and individual action and that just hurt us. So it has nothing to do with tactics, but purely with the quality of the opponent."
The match tilted after Pulisic's Olympic goal and the red card for Onyedika. "To come back to that goal first, I think the intention was to overcrowd the first zone. They kicked a lot of balls there and our organization was not good there. We didn't duel enough there and weren't 100 percent right on that ball yet. As a result, it becomes a treacherous collision ball that Mignolet also misjudged. So the ball goes in in a very stupid way and that really shouldn't happen at this level. Going back to Raphael's card, I think it was a duel hard-on. The fourth ref even came to see if it was a potential red card for them. Then of course we are surprised to get the red card, but I haven't seen the footage back yet. I think you can speak of some bad luck there then, but unfortunately it was decided against us." Onyedika did need some mental patching up. "We've comforted him a bit now first of all, but secondly we're just going to have a calm conversation about that tomorrow. We're also a warm club in that respect that doesn't drop players. We're going to look for solutions together, but I don't want him to change his game. These kinds of mistakes are going to have to come out and we have to get smarter about that. That is not always easy to learn, because you know he is someone who goes into duels very often. However, he never has the intention to hurt anyone, but unfortunately that did happen today. We have to learn from that, because he is still young. We always want to take steps forward, of course, and that's something he has to get smarter about."
Finally, the Club coach evaluated the performance with an eye to the future. "This match teaches me that we have to keep working this way. It's kind of the common thread through the season, also for example against Dortmund. We present ourselves well and create a lot of chances against real top clubs, also here on loan. Then you have to learn to be more clinical. The chances you get, you have to finish. It's as simple as that and this is the way we just want to keep working. On the one hand you are proud that you get positive comments, but on the other hand you are left with zero points. Especially on a platform like the Champions League, it does mean that you can be more clinical and seize the moments. Unfortunately, we didn't do that," Nicky Hayen concluded.