An investment without a direct return. Record purchase Roman Yaremchuk currently plays a supporting role in the successes of Club Brugge. The “Man of 16 Million” only scored once and is on the bench at the big moments. Will he seize his chance against STVV tonight?
Vincent Mannaert made a striking revelation a few weeks ago in football podcast MidMid. “At one point I was almost hoping that new strikers wouldn’t score on their debut.”
The fear of a curse has started to live in Jan Breydel’s corridors. Acquisitions that are immediately accurate, subsequently failed to live up to expectations.
Nicolas Castillo, Percy Tau, David Okereke and Shangyuan Wang, among others – do you remember him? – would reinforce the myth. Coincidentally, a few days after Mannaert’s statement, record purchase Roman Yaremchuk made his first minutes against Cercle… and scored.
Then followed – apart from two assists against Seraing – the big nothing.
Fifth wheel on the wagon
More than a month and a half after his arrival, the Ukrainian is anything but a title holder with the national champion. However, the master plan was that Yaremchuk would form a top tandem with Ferran Jutglà.
Only no one could have imagined that Kamal Sowah, the former record acquisition, would unfold so explosively. The Ghanaian played a key role in the Champions League victories against Leverkusen and Porto. Trainer Carl Hoefkens had no choice but to make his plan B of Yaremchuk.
And so the striker had to try to force his place, especially in the less important competition matches, such as against Standard and Westerlo. It didn’t help Yaremchuk, who performed poorly in both matches, that Club surprisingly lost those matches.
Suddenly you have to prove everything in certain matches, after seeing your competitors shine before.
Analyst Wim De Coninck sees that the record purchase is in a difficult position. “Yaremchuk has come as a real reinforcement, but is currently somewhat the fifth wheel on the car,” said the ex-goalkeeper.
“Actually, it is a bit comparable to Hazard’s situation at Real. Suddenly you have to prove everything in certain matches, after you saw your competitors shine before. Isn’t it going well? Then you are often the first to be criticized. Mentally is that heavy to carry.”
Reference match
Yaremchuk knows better than anyone how important trust is. During his early months at KAA Gent, the goalscorer struggled with himself during matches away from home. Trainer Yves Vanderhaeghe therefore only used his striker in home games.
Suddenly the click came. Even now Yaremchuk – meanwhile much more mature, more confident and familiar with Belgium – will have to hope for a tipping point.
“It’s going to be fighting back,” says De Coninck. “Only with some great performances and goals you can reverse the perception. Yaremchuk just needs a real reference match.”
Maybe tonight against STVV? Even if it doesn’t work out, the analyst assures Yaremchuk should not despair just yet. Indeed, with its sky-high price tag as its trump card.
“An expensive player will always get slightly more chances than a cheap one. Look at Sowah, that’s the best example. He grabbed his new opportunity with both hands.”
Ironically at the expense of Yaremchuk.
