Hans Vandeweghe: ‘Union completely denied its identity during the derby’

Club Brugge has washed away from its European defeat against Fiorentina and jumped to the top of the standings. A deserved victory?

“In all honesty, a draw against Antwerp could also have been achieved. Playing champions doesn’t just require good football. Club is in the corner where luck falls. And you have to force happiness. Blue-black does this by not playing in front of their own goal.

“However, Club is not invincible, just look at the match against Fiorentina. I think Bruges has concentrated on the national competition for a simple reason: it makes the team more money. In the UEFA Champions League they can add at least 30 million to the account. A win in the Conference League would only yield 4 million.”

Before the play-offs, no one expected this result from Club. Is the recovery the merit of trainer Nicky Hayen?

“Club has completed an unlikely journey. Before the play-offs they were nineteen points behind. After the halving, the other teams started to struggle. But that too is the luck of the champion. Three games before the end, Club is at the top.

“Perhaps the team owes more to the departure of Ronny Deila than to the arrival of Nicky Hayen. Yet Hayen is the kind of trainer that suits Bruges. The motto of blue-black is ‘bluvn goan‘. We saw that indomitability in Hayen as a player, but now also as a trainer. Of course, Club has very good players: they have the best squad in Belgium. Hayen knows how to make the team play football. Club has the players, the condition and is in the flow.”

Blauw-zwart previously had a lot of criticism about the division of points after the regular competition. Was it justified?

“Club Brugge has never lost a title due to the halving and now they may have one to thank for it. They should keep their mouths shut and recognize that it is a very good competition formula. The win is theirs. At times they have shown the best football, but they owe that possible title to the formula. They have their fate in their own hands with games against Union, Anderlecht and Cercle.”

The Brussels derby between Anderlecht and Union ended in a draw. However, Union had recovered.

“Union completely denied its identity during the derby. They left the ball to Anderlecht in the hope that their fast guys could beat Anderlecht’s slower defenders. That’s not Union’s game at all and it didn’t turn out well. Anderlecht played slightly better football, but in the end it was a typical draw. Either team could have won.

“Also worth mentioning in the game was Jan Vertonghen’s injury. After Anders Dreyer, Kasper Schmeichel and Thorgan Hazard, Anderlecht now once again has to deal with a player in need. That’s starting to become a lot. Vertonghen is very important in the build-up, that will make a difference.”

Three match days before the end we can gradually look back. Who is the disappointment of the play-offs for you?

“Two teams disappointed me. To a lesser extent Union has failed, but Genk in particular has taken a strange course. They were in good shape, but are now being outplayed everywhere. This may have to do with the rumors surrounding the departure of trainer Wouter Vrancken to Ghent. If that is true, it could become something else. Genk and Ghent may have to fight for the last European place.”

On Thursday it is time for the cup final between Union and Antwerp. Who has the best cards in their pocket?

“Antwerp was doing poorly until this weekend. Union had recovered again, until the match against Anderlecht. The people of Brussels have previously been able to beat Antwerp twice, but that means nothing. None of the previous matches matter: both teams can still take home the cup. We’ve already seen the craziest things during the finale.

“The cup remains the fastest route to Europe for both teams, followed by the UEFA Europa League, where more money can be earned compared to the Conference League. It is true that there is more at stake for Antwerp. They are currently the least certain of a European ticket.”

At the very bottom of the first class, Eupen’s story was written out after eight years. Will that be a loss?

“Finally! They have already miraculously saved themselves from relegation a few times. Many teams would also rather be rid of them than be rich. Playing in Eupen is the furthest travel in the country. Playing football there is anything but pleasant because of the cold and chilly stadium. Moreover, there was hardly anyone on the sidelines. It is a strange team in Qatari hands and the ugly duckling of Belgian football.”