Gaëtan Englebert was obviously delighted after RFC Liège’s success against Lommel (1-0) thanks to a goal from Kylin Hazard scored at the very end of the match. The coach spoke into our microphone.
The Sang et Marine carried out a good operation by winning against a direct competitor. This victory allows RFC Liège to move a little further into the top 6, synonymous with the playoffs of the climb. KAS Eupen, 7th, has five points less, while third place, occupied by their opponent of the day, is two points behind. Check out the full transcript of Gaëtan Englebert’s post-match interview below.
The interview with Gaëtan Englebert on our microphone after RFC Liège-Lommel
“It’s a good lesson for everyone. For some people who sometimes think they know everything, know everything, and explain everything better than everyone else. Football is 90 minutes, and there are two teams on the field who can win. Today, we had the success we needed by fighting to the end, like last week when we also tried to do that.
The ball sometimes falls well for one team, sometimes a little better for the other. We are very satisfied today, because we were playing against one of the best teams in the series, a team with a very different budget from ours, with players who have passed through other clubs, sometimes bought by certain big teams.
When we see the match today, we had two teams who tried to produce play, and ultimately, the one who had the most chances and dangerous situations deserved to win. We are really happy with everyone’s performance today.
We also had a good match in the first leg against Lommel, leading the score and remaining organized. Here, it was the opposite: while remaining well structured, and we were able to create things.
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First from Ruiz and Kylian Hazard who scored his first goal. It was important for us, especially these are players capable of unblocking a situation and bringing something more to the group.
We cannot become the player we once were again in a month, everyone must understand that. These are guys who work every day, who give their all. We have seen it for two or three weeks: some have passed a level, including Kylian Hazard, and that makes the difference. Kays Ruiz had a good match. We know the player: on the ball, he knows how to make good chances, speed up the game or slow down at times to avoid losing it. Even if there are still ways to do better. For a first, we can be satisfied. He doesn’t yet have all the automatisms with the others.
Defensively too, we were solid.
Defensively too, we were solid. The offensive players helped a lot behind. Everyone contributed to preventing this team from developing its usual game.
This is undoubtedly one of our best matches in a long time, in terms of play and organization.
We must not listen to what is said outside
But as I have said from the beginning, we have to stay focused. We must not listen to what is said outside, whether it is journalists, supporters or others. We work every day to do the best possible job until the end.
When we see the difference in budget, and we don’t feel it on the ground. Let’s let everyone work, and be positive and hope for the best for the team and the club. We hope to finish in the top six. Of course, we have a match on Saturday (editor’s note: against the RSCA Futures) that we will have to win. If we lose, they come back to two points and it’s another disaster here.
But we know what we are doing, we know what we are capable of, and we have shown it again for several years and weeks. There is quality in this group. We must not have too many injuries, because there are two or three positions where we are a little fairer.
We’ll see what we can do. Our American friends are here today, so we will probably discuss tomorrow morning the end of the season and what is still possible to do.
The absence of Alexis De Sart
For Alexis De Sart, it’s not much. He trained while the others prepared for the match. It should be available for Saturday. He was a little apprehensive, we’ll see how he feels in the thigh, but nothing dramatic. There are players who have gained strength since the start of the season, who have shown that they have the level. It will be even better if Alexis is there to continue to elevate the group, because the more of us there are at this level, the more everyone progresses in training. It’s good for us.”
