Anderlecht’s Bertaccini Issues Stark Warning After Loss to Saint-Trond

Anderlecht forward Adriano Bertaccini delivered a passionate rebuke following his team’s 2-0 defeat to Saint-Trond in the Jupiler Pro League Champions Play-Offs on April 23, 2026. The Belgian striker’s remarks came after a match that saw Anderlecht squander a chance to secure third place in the playoff standings.

The defeat left Anderlecht five points behind the third-place team with six matches remaining in the Champions Play-Offs phase. Bertaccini emphasized the urgency for improvement, stating that the team cannot afford to continue performing at the level displayed in Saint-Trond.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Bertaccini was direct in his assessment: “On est Anderlecht, pas une petite équipe. On était à onze dans notre rectangle, ce n’est pas comme ça qu’on gagne un match. À un moment, il faut se réveiller et pousser.” This translates to “We are Anderlecht, not a small team. We had eleven players in our own rectangle, that’s not how you win a match. At some point, we need to wake up, and push.”

The Belgian international further elaborated on the team’s shortcomings, noting that Anderlecht had difficulty responding after falling behind early. “Ce n’est pas fini, il reste encore six matchs. On a cinq points de retard (NDLR : sur la troisième place). Les Play-Offs 1, c’est long. On doit changer cette mentalité et mieux entrer dans nos matchs. On a quand même montré de belles choses, mais ce premier but nous a fait mal mentalement.” This means “It’s not over, there are still six matches. We have five points behind (editor’s note: on third place). The Champions Play-Offs are long. We must change this mentality and better enter our matches. We have shown fine things, but this first goal hurt us mentally.”

Saint-Trond’s victory was secured through goals from Keisuke Goto and Merlen, with Goto opening the scoring before Merlen added a second in stoppage time. The Japanese forward Goto had not scored in recent weeks prior to this match.

Bertaccini also criticized the team’s defensive approach, suggesting they had allowed Saint-Trond too much space and time on the ball. “Le problème, c’est qu’on les a trop laissés jouer. On est Anderlecht, pas une petite équipe. On était à onze dans notre rectangle, ce n’est pas comme ça qu’on gagne un match. À un moment, il faut se réveiller et pousser.” This reinforces his core message about the need for greater aggression and urgency.

The Anderlecht striker called for an immediate shift in mindset, urging his teammates to adopt a more killer instinct in future matches. He stressed that wearing the Anderlecht jersey comes with expectations that demand a higher level of performance and determination.

Looking ahead, Anderlecht faces a crucial derby match against Club Brugge on Sunday, April 26, 2026, which Bertaccini acknowledged will require quick recovery and improved performance. The Champions Play-Offs continue with six matches remaining for each team as they battle for European qualification spots.

Anderlecht’s current position in the playoff standings reflects the urgency of Bertaccini’s message, with the team needing to string together positive results to salvage their season objectives.

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