© BELGA
Will we know the champion on Wednesday? It could just be, because Club Brugge and Union look each other in the eye twice in four days. Alfred Schreuder knows it’s money time. Because if blue-black finally wants to take over the role at the top again, it must absolutely not lose on Sunday. “We start from our own strength.”
Junior Verbeeke
Today at 14:24
“A double duel in the Champions League”: this is how Alfred Schreuder compares the two confrontations against leader Union. The gap is three points, and in four days another six will be split between the two main title contenders. It’s now or never for Club Brugge. “We know that it is a very good team, with an intelligent coach and excellent players. They are life threatening. But we also have a strong team that has made excellent progress.”
And that is why Schreuder does not take a loss into account on Sunday. “Why not? Because I rely on our own strength (shrugs shoulders). With a defeat, an 18th national title is further away than ever, with a win in the Duden Park, Club becomes the most important title pretender. “I never assume a defeat. I don’t think so. But I don’t think the next two games will be decisive either. It is possible that the decision will already have been made, but it does not necessarily have to be. But let’s focus on Sunday first: I don’t like to look at different games.”
Annoying
Just as the denouement of the Jupiler Pro League is missing, Schreuder must miss water carrier Rits. Balanta will most likely be his replacement. “But I don’t like going into names. It’s annoying, but we’ve looked at training to see how we can stabilize that. We have tried several things. You’ll see how we’re going to solve it on Sunday. I’m not quite sure yet. But everyone is ready: that’s the most important thing.” Schreuder also indicated that he had a conversation with Rits a few days ago. “Mentally he is very strong and he is doing fine, but Mats is of course incredibly disappointed. He is looking forward to his rehabilitation and wants to return stronger than ever. We can use his mental power. Mats has gone through an enormous evolution after the winter break. How he played: that was very annoying for the opponent.” Furthermore, everyone is just fit at Club Brugge.
Schreuder and his colleagues want to be there on Sunday for their – at the moment – most important appointment of the year. At 1.30 pm it is showtime in the Duden Park, on Wednesday Union will visit the Jan Breydel Stadium at 8.30 pm. “And at the end of the day we’ll see if we’ve earned the title in the end (grins).”
