With the penalty kicks ahead against Qarabag, Hein Vanhaezebrouck took his secret penalty kick weapon Céderick Van Daele off the bench. The 22-year-old defender was already able to convert six penalties at Jong Gent.
But a penalty kick in the youth series is something else than a decisive penalty kick in the Conference League. “Before my substitution, the coach had asked if I wanted to kick,” said Van Daele. “My answer? Baja, anyway.”
“I know I can kick a penalty and I want to prove myself here.” Coach Vanhaezebrouck had not expected anything else. “I didn’t put it in for his clean eyes”, the trainer laughed at the press conference.
Van Daele also chose to take the decisive step. “I could choose between the 3rd and the 5th penalty. I felt better with the 5th. I was stressed – heart rate very high – but I was very happy when I shot it.”
Van Daele chose his favorite corner, without hesitation. “I don’t think they were going to analyze my penalties from the first national”, he laughed.
Yet the young defender did not immediately realize that he had kicked Ghent to the next round. “I was so focused that for a moment I wasn’t sure it was the decisive one,” he said. “When I suddenly saw everyone standing behind me, I could celebrate.”
