“Looking coach, goal problem and noise on the line”: why Antwerp is the “underdog” in the cup final

Last year the outright favorite, now the underdog. Antwerp is not the main contender for final victory in the Croky Cup this year, is the general consensus in Sporza Daily. “They no longer have the values ​​and strength they had last year,” estimates analyst Tom Boudeweel.

A double dress rehearsal at the cup final once again confirmed the suspicions: Union is the top favorite in the Croky Cup. In the play-offs the score was 4-1 and 0-3 for the people of Brussels against Antwerp.

“They are playing with more self-confidence again than a few weeks ago. And that has to do with the fact that the opportunities are now being taken advantage of,” says Tom Boudeweel.

“They were able to switch gears again just in time and break the negative spiral. The key players also stood up again at the right time.”

Ex-Union player Siebe Van der Heyden fully agrees with that analysis. “They deserve to win a prize and now is the time. They have to put the competition in the back of their minds and focus on the cup.”

You can feel that everything is over between all parties in Antwerp.

Tom Boudeweel

While Union also has a chance in the competition, the cup is “the last lifebuoy” for Antwerp. Can they keep their heads above water in the cup final?

“Antwerp can no longer bring what it brought last year,” said Boudeweel. “The values ​​and strength they had then no longer have. They are in 6th place in the play-offs and are dragging themselves to the end. Then the cup final does not come at the right time.”

“You can feel that everything is over between all parties: the board, the players, the trainer and the medical staff. There is a lot of noise on the line.”

Coach Mark van Bommel seems to be on his way to the exit at Antwerp, but will be more than happy to leave with a prize. Can he charge “The Great Old” one more time?

“I don’t expect any more feats,” Boudeweel is clear. “I don’t expect any more surprises from Van Bommel, because he has already tried everything. The coach is searching.”

“Janssen in the striker, Janssen in the ten, all options have already been used in the triangle… Van Bommel has already tried everything in midfield and in the vanguard, so I’m afraid there is no more surprise.”

“There is no one left on the bench that he can throw into the team as a deus ex machina or white blackbird.”

If he could still count on his benchers last year, Van Bommel is at a loss after the departure of some strong players. “That is a major frustration for the coach and one of the reasons why there is so much noise on the line.”

“If you lose Pacho at the back and two creative players with Vermeeren and Stengs… The fact that Antwerp no longer has that creativity in its team is a big problem.”

I don’t expect any more surprises from Van Bommel, because he has already tried everything.

Tom Boudeweel

And that is not the only problem for the retiring national champion: they were only able to score 3 times in the play-offs.

“Vincent Janssen is actually a player for the penalty area, because that’s where he is dangerous. But without Vermeeren and Stengs, he has to come from too far away,” says Boudeweel.

“He has scored twice in the last 13 games. That is far too few for an attacker of his caliber. There is also too little supply to Janssen.”

“Last season, Antwerp was often helped by substitutes, such as Gyrano Kerk. Not anymore.”

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Is it all doom and gloom for Antwerp? No, because the cup final can change a lot, Boudeweel thinks.

“In a cup final there is always a glimmer of hope. If KV Mechelen as a second division team can beat AA Gent…”

“It’s possible in one day. It’s possible that Antwerp avoids 1-0 and then crawls into the trenches. Maybe they can unite one more time at Antwerp and fight side by side for 90 minutes.”

We should not expect a flashy match. “For the neutral fan, it is hoped that a goal will be scored soon, so that there will be more space. Because I think it will be a very closed final,” concludes Boudeweel.