La Louvière, Belgium – Racing Genk’s hopes of reaching the Champions’ Play-offs in the Belgian Pro League were extinguished Sunday in dramatic fashion, a 5-5 draw against La Louvière sealing their fate and leaving head coach Nicky Hayen deeply frustrated. The result, coupled with Gent’s victory over Dender, means Genk will compete in the European play-offs instead. The draw marked a painful end to a week Hayen described as a nightmare for the club.
“This match is a summary of our season,” Hayen said after the rollercoaster encounter at the Easi Arena. “We wanted to avoid what happened this week, and it happened.”
Genk raced to a 2-0 lead, then extended it to 4-2 and 5-3, appearing to be on the cusp of securing a coveted top-six finish. However, a late collapse, conceding two goals in added time, saw their hopes dashed. The team flirted with a Champions’ Play-off spot based on goal difference, but ultimately fell short.
“It’s been a rollercoaster,” Hayen explained. “When we went up 5-3, you recognize you still demand two goals and you throw everything at trying to overtake Anderlecht. That ball just needed to fall our way…”
“Then you concede too easily to produce it 4-5 and 5-5. It was a crazy match with very good and very bad moments.”
Hayen pinpointed a lack of consistency as the root cause of Genk’s struggles. “We didn’t lose the Champions’ Play-offs today, we lost them throughout the entire season. We’ve only been in the top six twice.”
The disappointment is very great. What we wanted to avoid this week, happened.
Nicky Hayen
The goals conceded were particularly galling, described by Hayen as “stupid and easy.” “That has to be eliminated, 100 percent.”
Goalkeeper Tobias Lawal too came under scrutiny for his performance. When asked about a potential goalkeeping problem, Hayen responded, “We know it’s been very difficult for him in recent weeks and months. It’s a shame it happened, but we continue to defend everyone.”
“We’re not just going to focus on him. You always have to draw sober conclusions after a match, and we will do that clearly.”
Now facing the European play-offs, Hayen acknowledged the disappointment but emphasized the opportunity to still reach Europe. “The disappointment is very great. What we wanted to avoid this week, happened. But it’s not the first time Genk has played in Play-off II, won, and reached Europe. That has to be the goal.”
The upcoming international break is seen as a welcome opportunity for the squad to regroup. “The international break comes at a good time to clear our heads.”
However, addressing the underlying issue of consistency remains a priority. “By making fewer mistakes, being more clinical, and putting players on the pitch who are 100 percent committed. That’s not always the case in execution.”
“The players need to be much stricter with each other. When you’re leading 3-5, you have to see it through. It was too timid and quiet from us. That has to change. We need to hold onto the good things, but there’s a lot of work to be done.”
Racing Genk players look dejected after the draw.
Genk’s next challenge comes after the international break, with a trip to face Westerlo on April 7th. The focus will be on securing a European spot through the play-offs, a goal that remains within reach despite this weekend’s setback.
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