Five days after the big disappointment incurred in Bruges, Anderlecht is ready to show that it is indeed a candidate for the title. This is what his coach Brian Riemer made clear at his press conference.
What feeling do you keep from this defeat in Bruges?
“I learned that 24 hours after a match, you have to focus on the next one. So this week I’ve been mainly thinking about how I can improve my team for the match against Union. ”
But have you read that you were heavily criticized because you didn’t play Mats Rits?
“I haven’t read it, but it’s football. One day, you are the coach of the year when you bring up Vazquez and Nilson Angulo (during the victory in Bruges in the classic phase). I would have been the hero if we had won again in Bruges. But things turned out differently. Of course I wondered if I should have played with Rits.”
And what is your answer?
“Mats had a great season. I have always used it, except for RWDM, but for other reasons. I have the luxury of having four excellent midfield players. Delaney, who took a knock in Bruges but trained at the weekend, has enormous experience. He has a Euro and a World Cup under his belt and he has played in big clubs. I’m not going to play every match with the same three midfielders. It’s up to me to choose the midfield players based on the opponent, without changing too much either.”
Amuzu is fit.
“Yes, but I’m not going to use him as a joker anymore. I’m not saying he’s not going to start a match, but I have to protect him. He’s coming out of an operation, I can’t fry him. I think at the beginning of the season you saw things from him that you had never seen before.”
The Union lost twice in a row. Is it time to beat them, after a nine-game winless streak?
“We saw in Bruges that every match is difficult. Even when Vanaken isn’t playing. I therefore expect a very motivated Union, which will put us in difficulty. I’m not counting the nine-game series, since I wasn’t the coach at the start of that series. What interests me is how we are going to play. We gave the Union goals in the last match, that’s one thing not to do against them. They are just waiting for this. We have to improve one thing or the other, compared to this 2-2. But I keep them to myself.”
Burgess can play.
“I’m going to be completely frank with you: I’m not interested. And I say that with the greatest respect for the player and for the Union. On the other hand, what becomes very complicated is this system of suspensions, appeals and second appeals in Belgium. I come from the Premier League. There, you can only appeal against a red card. (Sarcastically) The Union has often been at a disadvantage. They often feel as if they have been robbed. I’m happy for them that this time they won their case.”
Anderlecht’s nine-game winless streak against Union. ©IPM-Graphics
2024-04-12 14:05:00
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