An image we have not yet seen: some Union fans refuse to sing with players, El Hadj responds with a meaningful thumb
Trouble in paradise? Union is still the leader in the Belgian competition, but after 6 out of 15 the tenor is no longer as positive. After the 1-1 draw against top team Cercle, some of the fans who traveled did not want to honor a tradition. A scene that you rarely see among the people of Brussels.
An atypical moment in Jan Breydel.
After leader Union had just lost points (1-1) against Cercle Brugge, the visiting players traditionally greeted the accompanying supporters. This time no cloak of love from the Brussels fans, but a form of dissatisfaction.
While orchestra master Anouar Ait El Hadj stepped forward to start the song “Bruxelles, ma ville”, some of the supporters refused to sing along.
El Hadj first raised his hands in reassurance, but when the negative tone continued to emanate from the away section, he also responded aggrievedly. Arms open, a shout back and then a symbolic thumbs down.
This was also new for the loyal Guillaume François – who has been at the club since 2020 – and he in turn tried to calm things down.
Football is emotion. Always. But at Union you rarely see it this way.
Metal fatigue
However, Union is still alone at the top of the rankings. It also ends this successful year as a leader again.
Only: in the last five games it only achieved six points. Club Brugge has now come within one point, STVV is also one victory behind Union.
“How do I feel? I’m pissed,” striker Promise David – who was mainly angry with himself – was also honest after the match.
“We should have won, we should have decided the game in the first half. I should have finished it myself and we could have turned a few half chances into full chances. Although I have to compliment their goalkeeper (Warleson, ed.). He made great saves in both the first and second half.”
And also in general, David realized that Union can do better. “We played too sloppily and gave the ball away too easily. Cercle plays in a particularly intense way, they push and jump. That is their game and we knew it. However, we were ready for that.”
The boys now have some relief after a tough first part of the season with many new things.
David Hubert
Coach David Hubert echoed the same sound: “In the first half we had the chances to make it 2-0 and 3-0 and decide the match. Unfortunately, we did not succeed. The match should have been played at half time,” he tells his story of the match.
“It was a lot more difficult in the second half against a Cercle that played for what it was worth. You can discuss those two red cards (from Burgess and Diaby, ed.), but in the end that doesn’t matter. We did not manage to continue our level of the first half after half-time.”
And so the winter break seems welcome for the leader. “Yes, there is now some relief for the boys after a tough first part of the season with many new things.”
“Look, they have given a lot. We have to remember the positive things and now recharge the batteries, both physically and mentally. We will return on January 4 with the same ambitions and with fresh energy,” Hubert concluded combatively.
