Day of truth for Antwerp. The cup final can make or break The Great Old’s season. Former Antwerp striker Patrick Goots looks ahead to the confrontation against Union and assesses the importance of the match: “Antwerp faces one of the most important matches in recent years.”
Antwerp’s Belgian season was fairly colorless for the time being. With a 3 out of 18 and a 6th place in the Champions’ Play-offs, things are not going as hoped.
If The Great Old wants to brighten up its season, the team will have to bounce back after the negative series of recent weeks.
“With a cup win you immediately add color to your season,” says Patrick Goots, “It would also immediately give us that European ticket, because that will be anything but easy through the competition.”
“In addition, the cup can also be a nice farewell for Van Bommel, although his career at Antwerp does not depend on the Croky Cup. He completed far too good a course for that last year.”
“One thing is certain, Antwerp wins the cup”
After three finals in five years, the supporters claim that team number 1 is a real cup team. The slogan “One thing is certain, Antwerp wins the cup” is appearing more and more often around the Bosuil.
Goots is rather cautious with that label: “In the past, Antwerp was certainly not a cup team. Then it often lost against smaller teams. Although I understand it now after the recent performances.”
To win that third cup, Antwerp will have to crawl out of the valley of recent weeks. Goots sees that happening through a gesture from Mark van Bommel.
“I had an interview with Vincent Janssen last week. He told me that the players had been given 2 days off after the double loss against Union, which immediately improved the atmosphere at training.”
“Patje Boem Boem” immediately saw the effect of those days off on the field: “The players showed a different face against Club Brugge. They were much more eager than in the double confrontation against Union.”
The team will not make it against Union on an individual level.
Patrick Goots
“It will also be important for Antwerp to stand up as a team,” Goots realizes.
“Of course, Vincent Janssen is mainly taken into account, because he is decisive for the attacking compartment. As far as defense is concerned, I expect De Laet to come back into the team. With such a warrior you can always show a little more fire and eagerness.”
The ex-Antwerp striker emphatically emphasizes that it is extremely important that team number 1 plays as a team.
“The team will not succeed against Union on an individual level. The Great Old really has to rely on its collective strength and they will have to use that both offensively and defensively.”
Goots does not dare to make a prediction. “Both teams will fight each other with an open mind, so the match can go either way. It will therefore be a very different final than last year, where KV Mechelen played very defensively and did not actually feature in the play.”
Follow the cup final on all our channels. At 2.45 pm, presenter Karl Vannieuwkerke starts the support program on VRT 1 with guests Imke Courtois and Gert Verheyen. Peter Vandenbempt provides commentary, Tess Elst does the interviews.
The TV broadcast is streamed on the site, where you also receive text updates. On Radio 1, Tom Boudeweel is the commentator on duty.
Tags: Patrick Goots believes Antwerps resilience final days players good
