RFC Liège: Gaëtan Englebert on Winning Streak & Team Level

The Sang et Marine went a sixth game in a row without defeat by winning against the Pallieters. RFC Liège is virtually fourth and is level with Patro Eisden (5th, 40 points), who shared the points against Jong Genk (4-4).

Here is the full transcript of our interview with Gaëtan Englebert after the match:

“I think that the goal we conceded just after half-time, in such a phase (a well-placed free kick, editor’s note), it’s a shame. Besides, it was one of the only dangerous actions they had today, and even then, it wasn’t very threatening. We should have scored a second goal to take cover a little quicker.

That wasn’t the case. We had a more difficult quarter of an hour, twenty minutes, just before and after the goal. But afterwards, we had the success we needed. With two players who came on, who brought freshness, and in a set phase, we managed to regain the advantage.

We managed the end of the match well. Every week, we see that it is complicated to win matches. So when we can take back three points, it’s a very good operation, especially with the way. The first half was really at a good level, against a well-organized team.

Also read… RFC Liège wins against Lierse and continues its good series›

A lack of presence in the sixteen meters

We created possibilities, even if we perhaps did not have enough presence in the sixteen meters. A lot of balls passed, but we only had one or two players in the area. This is perhaps the only negative point, but for the rest, we had a good match.

We knew we had to change sides quickly and create superiority in this area. We also needed more presence in front of goal, but overall, we did things well. There were several dangerous balls in front of the goal, and the victory was definitely deserved.

These are matches that don’t come down to much. When you don’t take cover, there is always a risk of being caught on an act of play that puts your opponent back in the match. Of course it’s more complicated, but we’ve managed to react two or three times, and that’s important as a team.

Simon Paulet’s injury

For Simon Paulet (out with injury, editor’s note), it’s the knee. I thought at first it was the ankle, but no, it’s the knee. We’ll see what happens.

A very good operation also in the ranking? Yes, we continue our series, we look at the teams around us. For the moment, those who are just above or who we have just caught up with, that’s what counts. We have another good match next week, where we have nothing to lose and where we can still perform well.

We will rest well for some and work well for others, because with injuries and fatigue, we will need everyone. We are happy to have the group we have, especially with the latest arrivals, to be ready for the weeks to come.

Six consecutive games without defeat, that’s good, yes. It’s important. We don’t always know how to win, that’s what we often had in the past with a defeat behind us. We had slightly more complicated matches like at Anderlecht (0-0 draw, dlr).

But we hold zero, and that is crucial for confidence and for points. We are in a good spiral, everything is positive at the moment in the group, even if there are injuries…

We see that the team has become accustomed to playing at this level. We are more solid defensively, better organized, capable of holding a result or breaking the deadlock in a situation. Last season, we had a lot of ups and downs in the matches, and this season, a lot less. It makes the difference.

The two new

The integration of the two newcomers went well (Emrehan Gedikli and Victor Corneillie). We saw them yesterday, but they are already in the group. Now they have to work to integrate quickly into the game and physically, because training alone is not the same as with a group. They will need a few weeks.

Victor Corneillie we know his qualities. He now needs to improve over the duration of a match and be more decisive in the last pass. He brings a lot to the game, but he can still do more, and that’s what we expect of him.”