Casper Nielsen had difficult times at Club Brugge with injuries and little playing time under coach Ronny Deila. Initially transfer-listed, the Danish midfielder failed to impress and was even booed by fans.
But in the new year he found his form and formed a successful midfield trio with Hugo Vetlesen and Hans Vanaken. Described as the “pit bull of yesteryear,” Nielsen has once again proven himself and secured a permanent place in the team.
Casper Nielsen was on the transfer list at Club Brugge last summer
Last year, Casper Nielsen finished second at the Golden Boot Gala and played everything at Club Brugge. Together with other central midfielders Hans Vanaken and Raphael Onyedika, he was one of the three warriors who could not be ignored from the team.
Afterwards, however, he did not live up to expectations under Carl Hoefkens, Scott Parker and Rik De Mil. This season, Nielsen again had a dramatic start and was no longer first choice under new coach Ronny Deila.
According to The standard if he even left last summer. “Nielsen remains a useful pawn – he can absolutely still have his value –, but both Club and player expected more from his transition. So if there is an offer,” the newspaper said.
Dramatic Nielsen whistled at by his own fans
Casper Nielsen was faced with some unfortunate circumstances, including an abdominal muscle injury that affected his preparation, and the arrival of summer signing Hugo Vetlesen as a serious competitor in midfield.
Club Brugge’s new central midfield hierarchy quickly became apparent, with Hans Vanaken, Raphael Onyedika and Vetlesen as key players. There was no room for Nielsen anymore.
Moreover, the Dane barely managed to make an impression in the playing time he received from Ronny Deila. For example, he made a dramatic appearance against Sporting Charleroi and against Besiktas, including a horror pass to the opponent, and was even whistled at by his own fans.
“The tribunal Jan Breydel makes clear what it thinks about it,” wrote The last news.
With a sense of exaggeration: Deila didn’t like Nielsen
During the first months of this season, Casper Nielsen was clearly in a bad spot due to injuries and a lack of rhythm and confidence. The Danish midfielder needs regularity with his way of playing and that was clearly lacking at the time.
Moreover, Ronny Deila did not immediately see the usefulness of a player like Nielsen in his team. The Norwegian coach’s philosophy is mainly to attack, which is why he sees Hugo Vetlesen as his dream number six instead of Nielsen.
“It makes Deila dislike players like Odoi, Balanta and to a lesser extent Nielsen who have a taste for exaggeration,” wrote The last news. However, this ‘all-in’ approach from Deila did not produce good results, and the coach also continued to look for the right teeth to play for the defense.
By the end of November, Deila had already tried five different combinations in vain, with Nielsen, Vetlesen, Éder Balanta and Raphael Onyedika.
Pitbull Nielsen is on a roll: founder of Bruges neorealism
In the new calendar year, the puzzle finally seems to fit with the Hugo Vetlesen-Casper Nielsen duo, and the Danish midfielder has started in every Club Brugge match since then.
Partly because Raphael Onyedika was at the Africa Cup, but surprisingly enough, the results of the West Flemish also crescendoed. “Revealed himself as the pit bull of yesteryear,” wrote The newspapaer.
Although the Dane was not initially a player for Ronny Deila, the coach gradually saw him as the best option in the number six position in terms of tactics and positional play.
Nielsen infiltrates as usual and at times he is very successful. “Has gradually found his place at this Club,” the newspaper wrote. “Casper Nielsen, the founder of Bruges neorealism,” analyzed The last news.
The regular trio in midfield with Hugo Vetlesen, Hans Vanaken and Nielsen seems to have been found. “He plays everything, and that wasn’t the case for a long time. Moreover, he is playing well – together with Vanaken and Vetlesen there is balance again in Club’s midfield,” concluded Het Laatste Nieuws.
2024-02-13 16:48:00
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