Club chairman Bart Verhaeghe satisfied despite European elimination: “Proud of everyone within the club”

The chairman makes the analysis that Club Brugge’s most dogged fan also made in all honesty. “Fiorentina was literally older. It showed more metier and played football more maturely. Fiorentina also plays in a bigger league than ours. But we were done in our way. Physically and mentally. Good work from Nicky Hayen and the entire staff. We have run more than Fiorentina. And then that penalty that wasn’t there, a real shame. I didn’t think the ref was at the level of a European semi-final. But come on, that wasn’t the only reason. We have learned something new.”

“Nicky Hayen is of course an option. But there are also other candidates. We are not going to act too quickly”

Bart Verhaeghe

Chairman Club Brugge

Nicky Hayen

Verhaeghe praises Hayen, but also his assistants Michiel Jonckheere, Hayk Milkon and Wouter Biebauw. “At Club we are a team and Nicky Hayen understands that well. Everyone is involved again, everyone wants to go in the same direction again, everyone is important. That is the spirit of Club Brugge and we were in danger of losing it. Nicky Hayen can make his team play good football but also choose the result. I thought he might have done the latter too much at Club NXT, but it worked in the end. We needed exactly that in the first team and you can say that he succeeded. He reminds me of Philippe Clement. Always calm, analytical and clear in his communication. People trained in our club usually do well. We also have to take that into account.”

With so much appreciation, the question immediately arises whether Hayen will still be head coach next season. “That is of course an option. But there are also other candidates. We’re not going to act too quickly. Finishing the competition is the most important thing now, there is no time to sit quietly around the table. It really has to be over this time. We have not always made the right choices over the past two years. Last season we should perhaps have continued with Rik De Mil after Carl Hoefkens. This season Ronny Deila was disappointing because he was too focused on himself and did not work with that team. Yes, a lot of praise for Hayen, but I cannot say anything about the choice of trainer for next season. After all, nothing has been decided yet. The agreement is and remains that we will speak after this season. I don’t do that alone. People like Bob Madou, Dévy Rigaux and Maarten Dedobbeleer, who are now coming to the surface and taking their responsibility in a good way, also have their say.”

“I continue to find this halving a sporting absurdity. It’s just not correct. But we are in this situation. Then we will try not to hand it over again.”

Bart Verhaeghe

Chairman Club Brugge

Champion

Eliminated from the Conference League, but Club Brugge still has something to play for. It enters the last three matchdays of the Champions’ Play-offs as competition leader. What a turnaround, especially thanks to the halving of the points after the regular competition. A system that the Club chairman is a rabid opponent of. “My opinion has not changed because we are in this situation now. I continue to find this halving a sporting absurdity. It’s just not correct. But we are in this situation. Then we will try not to hand it over again.”

“Hans Vanaken. What a match he played again against Fiorentina. He is gradually earning a statue at Club Brugge”

Bart Verhaeghe

Chairman Club Brugge

As a final touch, the chairman wants to put one more player in the spotlight. “Hans Vanaken. What a match he played again against Fiorentina. He is gradually earning a statue at Club Brugge. My respect for him is enormous. And not just from me. Those Italians all wanted his jersey. They shook his hand and said that they appreciated him immensely. His vista, his ball handling… Hans is an icon of the club. Chapeau!”