After the record of 1 out of 6 in the league, Vincent Kompany is not entitled to error in Albania, facing a not very sexy opponent.
Nine hundred and sixty-six days. Within 34 days, Anderlecht supporters would have been deprived of European football for a thousand days. An eternity for a club that had qualified 55 times in a row before this period of scarcity. This Thursday, in the sad Elbasan Arena (its facade looks like that of an old clinic), Sporting finds the competition to which the club owes all its prestige in Europe, thanks to its seven finals, including three won.
It is however only by the small door that the Mauves join their great love. The third preliminary round of the new Conference League against the unknown club of Laçi – even the Albanian Besnik Hasi was not able to analyze the number 4 of the Kategoria Superiore – is not the sexiest scene to show off to Europe. Only a qualification for the hens – it will undoubtedly be necessary to eliminate Vitesse in the next round – can somewhat restore the purple image.
“We have come a difficult way to qualify for Europe”, said Vincent Kompany at his press conference attended by four or five Albanian journalists in beachwear. “This match against Laçi is a first step that gives us hope. The goal is to gain strength in the coming seasons in order to participate in the biggest European competitions. Too bad our legion of supporters are not allowed to be here . “
