Vanhaezebrouck has questions about the Icelanders’ tent: “Why not play at an earlier time?” | Belgian clubs in Europe

You can’t miss it. At the Laugardalsvöllur stadium in Reykjavík there is no field heating so there is a large ‘tent’ to heat the field – the temperature is around freezing. “The circumstances will not be ideal,” says Hein Vanhaezebrouck. “Such a tent is no guarantee of a good, thawed turf. I once experienced it before a cup match against Mons. Four hours before kick-off, the tent is removed from the field and when kick-off takes place, it is concrete again. The people here can’t do anything about that. What I do wonder: why don’t we play at an earlier time when there is still sun? Did we also ask UEFA that? Oh well, that makes no sense. Who am I to ask that…”

Such a field immediately increases the risk of injuries. “And the current generation of players has a luxurious life. They are not used to playing on heavy fields. Believe me: it will not be easy to win here.”

Vanhaezebrouck says he does not yet know how much he will rotate against Breidablik. “We are still going to discuss. We will decide tomorrow.” He cannot count on Andrew Hjulsager (ill). Ismaël Kandouss traveled along, but is unsure. (ABD)

AA Gent is encouraged in Iceland by 150 supporters – a good number for the Buffaloes. They will certainly not end up in a swirling Laugardalsvöllur, the national stadium of Iceland, tomorrow. At the previous European home match against Zorya Luhansk, there were only 1,700 spectators in total. (ABD)

AA Gent is already eagerly looking forward to Sunday. The top match against Anderlecht is sold out – 20,000 fans are expected in the KAA Gent Arena. It is the second time this season that the Buffaloes play in a full house, after the victory against Club Brugge (2-1) at the beginning of September. (ABD)

One absentee at AA Gent in training for the match against Breidablik: Andrew Hjulsager. It is not yet clear how seriously his injury is. Laurent Depoitre trained along, at least the entire fifteen minutes were accessible to the press. His comeback is getting closer. After their training this morning at the training complex in Oostakker, they go to Ostend airport to fly to Iceland. (ABD)