Maxim De Cuyper: "Deserved win"
It had been since the city derby against Cercle Brugge that Club Brugge was able to win another home game. And against arch-rival Anderlecht of all time, the champions managed to keep the three points at home, even though Maxim De Cuyper had to clear a ball from the line in the absolute closing stages : "It is unbelievable that in the last minute we almost scored the equalizer, but luckily I was just in time to stop the danger on the goal line. After the 2-1 you just know that they always get another chance like that but actually the game should have been played long before then," the Bruges left-back said in a first reaction. "A possible equalizer wouldn't have been deserved at all either because we played a very thick match today. Only again we failed to score more and put the match in the lock much earlier. We were constantly in control and especially in the first half we gave nothing away and put the game completely in our hands. From the opening minute we put a lot of pressure and that gave us the lead very early on. I don't think there is anything at all wrong with our performance outside of efficiency, it was very good today. So this win is totally deserved." (MV)
Ardon JashariI: "I feel good here."
Deep into the added time, Ardon Jashari was taken into the side to a standing ovation, it visibly pleased the young Swiss international : "I can't deny that this appreciation from the supporters pleases me, especially since I initially had the necessary time to adjust to a new environment and way of playing," the midfielder opened his account. "I was well received, I get a lot of confidence from the technical staff and the other players and I feel good here but in the end you have to try to force that starting place on training yourself. The competition is not minus but with few words off the field I try to prove myself especially on the field."
Jashari also had a clear view about the match itself : "We had prepared ourselves well for this match and we displayed a lot of quality within our team both with but also and especially without the ball. We played a great game and if we can keep up this level, we will be very difficult to beat. Although there is no denying that we need to score more and so we need to keep working on our efficiency. If we win 4-0 today, no one can call that final score excessive. I myself also tried to score twice myself but for now I am waiting for a very first goal in front of my new employer and fans, I want to make them proud" (MV)
Simon Mignolet: "Finishing chances is the story of the season"
Being dominant and still shaking and trembling at the end. An analysis in which Simon Mignolet could agree.
"I think we are the deserved winner of this top match, but we have to make it a little easier on ourselves. I think we played a very dominant game with a lot of chances. We had to wait a little too long for that redeeming second goal and we need to play it a little smarter. Anderlecht then made the 2-1 at the very end and you know they're going to come out with all the balls in the box and just at such a stage we get one in and then it's still shivering until after the final whistle. Fortunately it stayed 2-1 and in the end we got what we deserved, which was the three points."
"Finishing chances is really the story of the whole season actually. We have to keep working like we did today, keep playing collectively and then there will come a time when we will finish those chances. The six out of six is pleasing and especially this one just now against the so-called arch enemy is something that we know what it means to our supporters and I think that's why they had a great afternoon. And that it was precisely our youngest players who scored today is nice, but also in defense they did their utmost and that is of course nice to see that they are growing, something that can only make Club stronger."(FDC)
Romeo Vermant: "A dream come true"
How would you be yourself if you scored your first goal for the first team and that against Anderlecht? That happened to Romeo Vermant this afternoon.
"I am convinced that I am currently the luckiest man walking around here at that moment," were the Bruges youngster's first words. "This was the moment I had been waiting for a long time. To then score here at Jan Breydel and against Anderlecht is a dream come true. I couldn't actually choose a better moment, which is why I reacted quite emotionally. All those efforts, all those hardships and all those trainings... that goal makes up for everything. My dad (Sevn Vermant) also scored a few goals against Anderlecht so that makes it all the more special that I could do the same of course. Last night we said that one day it would have to work and look... it happened. I hope the spell is broken now and that I can score some more in the future. Despite our dominance we got into trouble at the end and that should not happen. We played a very good match, but we kept forgetting to reward ourselves by closing the game by scoring more goals. So this is and will remain a working point."(FDC)
Nicky Hayen: "Very proud of Club's youth team"
Nicky Hayen saw his team grab a deserved three-peat against Anderlecht, although Blauw-Zwart came away well in the closing stages. "It was a very good game from us. We wanted to make them feel right away that we didn't want to let them get into the game. After all, they have a team with players who can make the difference invidivally. That worked out well, we created a lot of chances and should have led more than 1-0 at halftime. At halftime we then said to continue in the same way. Unfortunately that second goal by Tzolis was disallowed, but the players picked it up well. In the end, we then did score that second goal, but instead of 3-0, it then became exciting. It would have been very sour and undeserved to still lose points here, but clearly you have to reward yourself more here. I'm very happy with the way we played. The closing stages leave a bit of a sour aftertaste, but that certainly shouldn't make you forget all the good things. It has happened before that you give away a goal and still get into trouble. So we have to keep working on that."
The Bruges coach preferred Romeo Vermant in the center of the striker and he did not disappoint in the least. The young striker played a hell of a game and scored his very first goal for Blauw-Zwart. "Romeo has a lot of dynamism in his game. That first goal wasn't a coincidence either. We always try to put high pressure and Simić did not expect it, which allowed us to take advantage. Romeo has grown tremendously as a striker over the years. He has become much more ball-resistant and also combines that with good finishing. All credit to the youngsters. Vermant and Talbi both scored goals and the other youngsters played very well. I am very proud of Club's youth team." (SF)