After the game against Fiorentina, we collected reactions from Hans Vanaken, Simon Mignolet and Nicky Hayen.
Hans Vanaken: "Very strict decision of the ref"
As with everyone close to Blauw-Zwart, Hans Vanaken could not hide his disappointment shortly after the elimination while speaking to the assembled press.
"Until the 85th minute you have the prospect of extensions but then when that deadly goal falls so late, the disappointment is obviously particularly great. This is obviously very sour but in all honesty I have to say that over the two games they turned out to be the better team. Finally, we stayed straight through the frame three times today but finally had to bow our heads. Suppose you can drag those extensions out anyway, you never know what can happen in the added time," said the Bruges captain.
"We gave everything so we have nothing to blame ourselves for but again, this is very sour. Whether that penalty kick was justified? I haven't seen the phase back at the moment but I had the feeling that this player from Fiorentina goes down with his head while Brandon wants to clear the leather. I thought it was a very strict decision by that Turkish ref, which apparently was not corrected by VAR either. These are the kind of phases that happen in the gray zone and then such decision can go either way. Just like in Florence, we could not really put our stamp on the game tonight. No shame in itself because Fiorentina is a strong team, probably ranked below them in the Italian league. They put very high pressure and often the second ball was also for them. I thought we didn't connect enough, so we hardly got into our own game. We gave everything, but unfortunately it was not to be. Nevertheless, we had a fine run in Europe, with the semi-finals as the final. Still, I am proud of what we accomplished. Now it will be a matter of getting over this elimination and clearing our heads for our next match next Monday against Union. We have three games left, from now on the focus is on the playoffs and the title." (MV)
Simon Mignolet: "Pity that a penalty decides we can't go to the final"
Club did everything in its power to keep Fiorentina off the pitch, but a very lightly whistled penalty at the end of the match meant that it was finally the Italians who got to go to the final in Athens. Simon Mignolet found it deadly unfortunate that Blue-Black was eliminated with that late 1-1.
"Yes, of course everyone who cares about Club Brugge is disappointed with this result," said the Brugge goalkeeper. "Nevertheless, we can and should be proud of the game we played. And yes, our first half was less than our second half but that was due to the play of our opponent. Fiorentina can bring in fresh guys who in turn weigh on a defense and I think the Italians were the better team. Three, four balls on the goal wood, that's where we got away well and still stayed 1-0 for a long time, which meant we had everything in our own hands. Then you quietly start thinking about possible penalty kicks and you never know what can happen, but it's a shame that a penalty decides that we don't get to go to the final."
"Actually it's a referee's decision, but from my point of view there was little wrong with what Brandon did, but that's all talk in hindsight. There may have been light contact, but I don't think in such a loaded match you should whistle phases like that, because you know this could be the decision on whether or not we get a final ticket. Looking over both games, Fiorentina is the deserved finalist, but I think that despite the strength of the opponent, we more than resisted. That was certainly evident in the reaction of our supporters after the final whistle. Now, we may be disappointed but from tomorrow the focus has to be toward our next home game against Union because there is obviously still a prize to be won." (FDC)
Nicky Hayen: "Disillusionment will give way to pride"
Nicky Hayen was also very disappointed after Club Brugge was stranded a sigh from the Conference League final.
"We are limping on two thoughts. On the one hand it is sour because you go out with a penalty kick. But on the other hand, we are also proud of how we presented ourselves today. Especially in the first half. Unfortunately, we weren't able to hold on, but that's also due to the quality of the opponent, which is perhaps ranked below its value in Serie A. We were well prepared for it, but at a certain point it was a matter of survival. That fatigue obviously weighs on us, but we try to deal with it as best we can. When you see the intensity and energy we showed in the first half, it's normal that you have to drop back a bit in the second half. We did everything we could as a group and as a staff to qualify for the final. It's details that decide this match, but we have nothing to blame ourselves for."
The match was ultimately decided by a debatable penalty phase? "It is indeed a detail that decides this match. I have to review the footage. His head was quite low, but I don't know if it was a clear error. Brandon was very disappointed, but I'll catch up with him tomorrow. You can't blame anyone today. Now disappointment prevails, but that will give way tomorrow to pride in what we showed in Europe. If you see the reaction of the crowd after the match, that is also what we want to take with us as a group. We have to leave the field with our heads held high. That should motivate us to bring those last three games to a successful conclusion." (SF)
Review the press conference here: