As controversial was his press conference last week in Antwerp, so serene and calm was Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s the day before the move to Standard. The Ghent coach did not want to answer questions about his future and he admitted that he should not have made last week’s statements about Depoitre.
In an exclusive interview with Het Laatste Nieuws, new Ghent owner Sam Baro was critical of his team’s “fearful football” at the end of last week.
Vanhaezebrouck was not entirely happy with it and shot sharply at the press conference after what he thought was an avoidable draw in his own stadium (2-2). He complained about his team’s stupid exclusions and penalties and targeted Laurent Depoitre, who missed a great chance in the end.
The Ghent coach saw ex-goalgetter Patrick Goots sitting in the press room and said that “Patje Boem Boem would have made such a run-in at the far post”.
That comment earned him a lot of criticism in the press, including in Extra Time. “Painful and humiliating,” it sounded.
Today, Vanhaezebrouck responded with a mea culpa when he was asked about it: “That was rather aimed at the entire offensive compartment. But it is a fair comment. I should not have brought in Patje Boem Boem at all.”
I shouldn’t have told you all that. There is very little intentionality behind it. It’s really just to make it more fun.
Hein Vanhaezebrouck
“That was not wise. But I think Laurent knows me very well and also knows that the coach is like that. When they ask Julien De Sart in Extra Time whether he listens to the coach’s press conferences, he started to laugh. They all know me now.”
Vanhaezebrouck notes: “Of all those who make a fuss about it, it is the players who make the least fuss about it. They know what the coach is like and chats with them during the week.”
“And there has been a statement that it is better not to do, but they know that it is not personal.”
“They should actually darken the room so that I can no longer see who is in the room.”
Coach and striker have not discussed it with each other. “I did talk about it with others and the players talk among themselves. But it was not an item, otherwise Laurent would have come to me.”
Vanhaezebrouck also saw positive things from Depoitre against Antwerp, who was not 100 percent fit and therefore only came on. “He did that well, he brought energy. I just still think he should have been there at that final stage.”
“But I shouldn’t have told you all the things that came with it.”
He gave an explanation why he does that anyway. “That actually makes little sense, it’s just to make it more fun. There are very few intentional intentions behind it. I think they have realized by now that the coach likes to say something fun that everyone can laugh at.”
“They couldn’t laugh about it at first, but now they do.”
(read more below photo)
Laurent Depoitre (r).
Vanhaezebrouck preaches peace: “Whoever wins the next match will be in a better position”
Vanhaezebrouck was not surprised by the fuss his press conference caused: “Because I know the media. Although the fuss wasn’t too bad, you know. The media made a bit of fuss and there was a reaction to it. Positive and negative, it can be seen from which way it comes.”
He explained himself a little further: “It shows who gives out exclusive interviews and who doesn’t.” An allusion to Baro? “I’m not referring to anything.”
The fuss of last weekend meant that Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s future at KAA Gent is uncertain. Many football followers – including Peter Vandenbempt – no longer see the 60-year-old coach working there.
Today there were a lot of questions about his future from the news present. They took turns trying. Vanhaezebrouck, however, did not allow himself to be lured out of his room and had his answer ready: “Next question” was often heard.
He did want to explain why he does not want to discuss it: “I am not going to say anything about that, because we are preparing the match against Standard. We are going to try to tackle that match in the right way and get the 3 points.”
“We will continue to fight for Play-off I. And everything else is music for the future. When it is festival time. And that will take a while.”
Saturday’s match will be crucial. But Vanhaezebrouck preaches calm: “Whoever can win the next match is in a better position than the team that cannot.”
“If we can win now, we will participate until the last match. Otherwise it is not guaranteed, but it is not lost either. But Standard also thinks that way, right? If they win another match, they are saved.”
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2024-03-01 17:49:57
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