Reactions after Antwerp - Club Brugge

Hans Vanaken: "We play with confidence"

Club Brugge achieved a hard-fought victory at the Bosuil. Although captain Hans Vanaken did not score, he once again pointed his team in the right direction.

"This is a very important victory, also and maybe especially despite our particularly tough schedule," the Limburger said. "It was by no means a high-class match and it's also a little bit off, but this does not detract from what we have managed to achieve in recent weeks. With first Union, then Genk and now Antwerp, we took three away victories in a row and achieved 19 out of 21. Whether the gods are with us? I understand what you mean, but on the other hand there is also the belief in our own abilities. We are in a good flow and again... not everyone gets a nine out of nine at Union, Genk and Antwerp. It is also to our own credit, so we will make sure that the fairy tale continues."

Even when asked if the tying goal caused some doubt, Vanaken immediately had an appropriate answer ready. "Not at all, because we play with confidence and I was sure we would hold the lead until the end. This is in contrast to the regular season where we still let a 0-2 lead slip out of our hands here. Confidence does everything to a player and something like that is hard to explain. Nevertheless, we have to keep analyzing things well, because especially in the second half I still found us playing a little too little soccer and this has to improve."

To the comment due to the analysts that he had given a "master class" this afternoon, the Bruges captain had to laugh. "I just try to do my stinking best and if this is appreciated by others, then this is nice to hear. On the other hand, there is also my role as captain and in the moments when we came under pressure for a while, it was important to stay calm and preach calmness. As a result, in an offensive sense, maybe I came out a little too little. I haven't scored a goal in the playoffs, but we are at the top of the league and still in the race for the title. So you certainly won't hear me grumble." (MV)

Andreas Skov Olsen: "Emotional about my goal."

With an absolute beauty, Andreas Skov Olsen made it 0-2 and put Club Brugge on the way to an important victory at outgoing national champion Antwerp. The Danish winger was therefore voted 'Man of the Match' and thanked for this honor with the biggest smile.

"I cannot describe how happy I am with this goal and the way of scoring is a bit my 'trademark,'" he said. In celebrating the goal, I really did get emotional because after my injury woes I am finally back. Then when you can also help the team by scoring, you are obviously very happy. Having said that, this could be a very important three-peat in the battle for the title. With this win we now put pressure on both Union and Anderlecht, so it's up to them to close the gap again. For us, the approach remains the same and we have to look at it from match to match, although the ambition must always be to go full for the title. Just as we also want to go all out next Wednesday to reach the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League. It will be anything but a breeze, but with our twelfth man we must do everything we can to give our very best." (MV)

Simon Mignolet: "Out at Antwerp is always a hard nut to crack"

Club remains unbeaten in the Champions' Playoffs after a hard-fought 1-2 victory over FC Antwerp. A slight back injury to Nordin Jackers allowed Simon Mignolet to be back in goal for Blauw-Zwart.

"I think especially in the first half they were dangerous from distance a few times," opened the Club goalkeeper. "Which did lead to some dangerous stances, but fortunately I was standing firm. I am especially happy that we can take the three points back home, because you know that an away game at Antwerp is always a very hard nut to crack. Yes...we can look back on this topper with satisfaction, even though I regret that we had to concede a penalty goal. Otherwise it would have been another clean sheet, but come...all's well that ends well."

Now was Ordóñez's mistake a penalty or not a penalty? "I must honestly confess that I didn't see what Ordóñez actually did wrong, because for that I was too focused on my task. But all in all, I am very happy that I was allowed to be in goal again today. Obviously, if Jackers wasn't hurt, I wouldn't be playing today either. However, I think I did my job properly. Nordin (Jackers, nvdr) and I get along very well and now everyone knows that Club has two very good goalkeepers. I hope his injury is not too bad and that he is also fit as soon as possible. The best thing would be if we could celebrate a trophy together within three weeks." (FDC)

Nicky Hayen: "Everyone begrudges each other."

After another win in Blauw-Zwart's handsome win streak, Nicky Hayen was obviously a satisfied coach.

"I think this is just the strength of the whole group," Hayen began his reaction. "I said before the game that everyone likes each other and you just see that. Today, for example, you also saw the substitutes coming onto the field and throwing their heads in front of it. If you see the tackle from Casper(Nielsen) and the pressure from Philip(Zinckernagel) in the last minutes to get those long balls out. That's just what we want to show every time and then it doesn't matter what name is on the field. Then you see that maybe you don't rise above yourself, but you come to a very strong unit."
After the defeat Thursday, coach Hayen was still quite strict with his group, but that was not the case now. "I am mostly very relieved. Two days ago we were still on the plane to return from Italy and today we had another very intense match. I think the tone was actually given from the kickoff how difficult it was going to be here. I do think we handled that very well. We found the free spaces and controlled the game without having much depth and without creating many chances. In the second half we recovered again and scored well. Then we do give oxygen just too early to get back into that game and then you know it's survival again. Then again you see what this group is capable of."
There was also a return to a possible penalty foul by De Cuyper on Kerk in the slot. "I haven't seen it back yet, but I did hear that he lightly touched the ball and that's enough to not whistle a penalty. I didn't see it, so I can't judge it either."
Blue-Black continues to win, getting closer and closer to the title. "We just have to stay level-headed and every game we have to put today's performance back on the field. We can't afford to go less and bring less intensity because any ball can fall right. How the title was settled last year, it can be just as good here. If you refer back to last year's game and they scored 3-2 here with Vermeeren's goal in the last minute and we could do the same today. We kept that focus 95 to 96 minutes, so I'm very happy with those three points. We have to keep that up for as long as possible," concluded a realistic interim Club coach. (TM)