The dismissal of coach Steven Defour still resonates with Achter de Kazerne. T2 Fred Vanderbiest, who again temporarily takes over at KV Mechelen, is also disappointed with the dismissal of his colleague, but also realizes that KVM has to move forward. “Only one thing matters: doing well again against Standard on Sunday.”
“I wasn’t expecting this.”
Fred Vanderbiest (46) sighs. For the third time in two seasons, the experienced assistant has to retire at KV Mechelen. He takes over temporarily after the dismissal of T1 Steven Defour. It was put on the cobblestones on Thursday evening after the poor results in recent weeks.
“You don’t make many friends in football, but with Defour a good colleague and friend is leaving,” Vanderbiest said at a press conference on Friday. “I now take over for the club and the fans, not for myself.”
He was also surprised that Defour’s dismissal suddenly happened so quickly. “When conversations take place between the board and the coach, you know that it is not to talk about the weather or dinner. But no, I did not expect it.”
“Now there is only one thing that matters. Being able to make a good impression again on Sunday against Standard. That we can once again be in some positive news.”
When conversations take place between the board and the coach, you know that it is not to talk about the weather or dinner.
Fred Vanderbiest, interim coach KV Mechelen
Defour worked for one year as head coach at Mechelen.
Need for continuity
How did the group react to Defour’s departure? “There are always mixed feelings in a group,” says Vanderbiest. “Some boys are disappointed, other boys may see an opportunity to come to the fore again.”
“We now have to get everyone back in the same direction. That was the problem, not so much the coach’s approach.”
“Of course, things also need to improve on the field. Things need to be better and more compact in terms of possession and loss of the ball. But there is little time to set something up by Sunday. Changing the system is not appropriate now.”
We now have to get everyone on the same page again. That was the problem, not so much the coach’s approach.
Fred Vanderbiest, interim coach KV Mechelen
KVM now has to look for a new coach (again). Among other things, the name of Marc Brys, fired from OHL last month, is circulating.
“How long will I have to serve as interim? That was not given to me,” says Vanderbiest. “I’m now focusing on Sunday, we’ll see what happens on Monday.”
Doesn’t KVM mainly need continuity? “That happened under Wouter Vrancken. Then Danny Buijs came, then Defour … You know that the coach is quickly looked at if the results are not good. Whether that is the right solution? We will only know in the long term. .”
Cruciate ligament injury for strongman Storm
With a move to Sclessin, KV Mechelen faces another difficult task on Sunday. But KVM will appear weakened at the kick-off, because the club is not spared from injuries.
Vanderbiest announced that Nikola Storm, who was injured against Knokke on Tuesday, will be unavailable for a long time. The strongman suffered a partial cruciate ligament tear and is awaiting months of rehabilitation.
“An investigation must show whether surgery is necessary,” Vanderbiest shared. “But you know that if you are in the corner where the blows are falling, such things can happen.”
2023-11-03 13:00:31
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