After yesterday, one man is worshiped, but also cursed in Bruges.
Cercle goalkeeper Warleson was the tormentor of Club Brugge in a fiercely fought derby.
“Well, what can you say? He had the match of his life,” sighed Zinckernagel and coach Deila after the scoreless draw.
However, Club Brugge created enough football opportunities. This gave them 7 great opportunities, but each time the Brazilian was in the way – much to the despair of the Bruges players.
“Wow, at one point it drove us crazy,” says Bjorn Meijer. “You keep telling yourself that the next one will go in… But nothing could be further from the truth.”
An achievement that also moved his experienced colleague on the other side, Simon Mignolet, to admiration. “I told him immediately after the match: you get a point for your club here. Normally we always score one when we get so many chances. He decided differently.”
Warleson is absolutely right about Cercle.
The 27-year-old Brazilian came over from his home country in 2020, but collided with Thomas Didillon and was pushed back last season by Monaco man Radoslaw Majecki. A choice that was sometimes difficult to justify from a sporting point of view.
“My heart is green and black,” he said after his miracle match. “I always try to help my club, that’s what I work for every day. I am therefore happy that I was able to contribute to the derby,” he remained modest.
But soon a broad smile appeared on his face. “I really enjoyed this match from the first to the last minute. Especially when I felt the ball hit my hand at the very end and I prevented another goal.”
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And even after the whistle, the Brazilian was still enjoying himself. In his slippers he hoed at the supporters, who thanked him with a collective song of praise.
And his teammates also embraced him en masse. “I’m very happy for that Warli“, says Hannes Van der Bruggen relieved after the final whistle. “Does he get a pastry now? He can have my slice of pizza, which is now in the locker room. He even earned two pieces.”
“He saved our asses“, his trainer Muslic continued. “You can always rely on him, but today he took his game to an even higher level.”
But Warleson – unlike everyone who was present at Jan Breydel – did not call this the best match of his life. “No, that will be the next one I play,” he concluded belligerently.
To be continued.
