Simon Mignolet: "It should not have ended like this"

The goalkeeper talked with referee Verboomen afterwards. "He told me that he had seen that the ball had brushed my hand. I told him that wasn't the case, but I understand he sticks with his decision. Then there was some uproar on the pitch and the sideline. For some reason the goal was then allowed, so I get back to my goal. I then see the referee talk with his assistant and the referee overturns his own decision. I don't know what's been said between them, but it's unfortunate that an important game had to be played without VAR. Just because it wasn't possible in one other quarter-final match. We know VAR is an asset. We need to understand that a game between Standard and Club Brugge is a difficult game for the referee, no mather what decissions he has to take, and on this level he needs all the help he can get. I simply can't comprehend why there was no VAR today and it's useless to try and explain it to me because it's impossible to give a good reason. Clear as that."

Club only has the league now, but the goalkeeper expects that the right conclusions will be drawn from this match. "It's a pity that we are out of the two cup competitions. We had high hopes for them. We're out of the Belgian cup. In my opinion unjust. Last Thursday's performance was not good enough. Today wasn't great either. We didn't score a goal and should have carved out more chances. But on the other hand, we didn't deserve to lose either. It shouldn't have ended like it ended today. It leaves a bad aftertaste. Tomorrow it will be difficult to make an analysis. We'll keep wondering: "What if?" The reality is that we are out of the cup and that's something that we can't control. That's the line that we have to draw today. We will make our analysis, but I think other people will have to do the same thing to see what can be improved."(KN)