Romeo Vermant: "Logical win for us"
Club Brugge grab a deserved three-peat on a visit to Westerlo. Despite not scoring, Romeo Vermant addressed the press after the match with a big smile : "I stand here with a very good feeling indeed. First of all, we took three very important points today, while I could start in the starting line-up for the first time. And this precisely against the team where I was allowed to start last season and gave me the chance to gain the necessary first experience at the highest level."
Also about the match itself, Vermant gave a clear answer : "I think the win was well deserved, because we had complete control of the game. We exploited the spaces between the lines very well and even before the half hour you get to 0-2. After that we already made it unnecessarily difficult for ourselves. Nevertheless, in the second half we played it out in a mature way. What could be improved? There are perhaps several factors. In addition to a number of injured players, we also have a number of internationals returning from international duty, so the preparation is not really optimal. This is not an excuse, but it could be a possible explanation. We also know that we are not at our best and that we are not playing the best soccer. But all in all I thought Club did play nice soccer at times today, so the win is logical." (MV)
Nicky Hayen: "Need to put matches in final fold faster"
Blauw-Zwart took an important three points against Westerlo and coach Hayen was satisfied with this. "I think we started the match very well," the Bruges coach began. "We tried to take out Westerlo's counters and we were well organized. In addition, we always tried to find the footballing solution and we found it effectively at the time. We got a good lead with a distance shot by Jorne Spileers that went in. After that we were able to make the second one very quickly, but then we again make the mistake by doing other things. Then you just give oxygen directly to the others. I think every Westerlo chance came because of technical mistakes we made. Then you can say we have to press, but this just concerns technical carelessness and then you give away opportunities. Then that connecting goal comes just before halftime and you just know that, if they play to their own spy head, you're going to face a difficult second half. Then they get chances, but we also get chances for 1-3. Both Vermant's chance and Jutglà's chance, you just have to be more efficient. Then maybe the score can run out further and you can finish that game calmly, but now it was shaky again until the last second. Then you need another ultimate save from Maxim De Cuyper on the line or a ball that can still fall right at any moment. So we need to be able to put those games in a final fold faster." Tuesday follows a fine duel with AC Milan. "Beforehand, I said that the focus should not be on Tuesday yet. With past experience, I know how difficult it is here for Club to take points. So it was just a matter of coming here to take the three points and preferably in a positive way. In the end, objective number one was achieved. It's an important duel anyway and of course it's no lie to look forward to Tuesday, the Champions League match against AC Milan. However, let's say that first the relief comes now and then the focus turns to Tuesday. Of course, you always keep working through any situation. I also named myself how important this trilogy was and then you do feel happy that you have already brought this to a good end. Again, Tuesday is of course another game, but next game against Anderlecht is at least as important or even more important. They lost yesterday and also want to get their backs up against us and we should hopefully take advantage of this and just move on," Nicky Hayen concluded.
