Such a reflection period after the regular competition can sometimes be beneficial. Wouter Vrancken and his staff got behind the drawing board and threw away what no longer worked. They came up with a completely different system and field occupancy. And it clearly worked…
Between September 16 and April 1, there were 23 competition matches in which Union did not lose. On September 16, Genk also won in the Dudenpark. On April 1, things went wrong again for the leader. After all, Wouter Vrancken had developed a concept for which they had no answer.
Foundations re-bricked
Genk played an entire season in a 4-2-3-1. In his first match of the play-offs, the Limburgers suddenly started in a 3-4-2-1. Something Union clearly had not counted on. It rarely happens that Alexander Blessin’s men have to give up midfield, but Puertas, Lazare and Sadiki were lost among a surplus of blue shirts.
Not coincidentally, because Vrancken wanted to achieve two things: more defensive stability with three central defenders and two wingbacks. But also more punching power through the middle. Union was weakened centrally in defense and he wanted to take advantage of this by getting as many people through as possible.
Vrancken likes to create organized chaos. But it had to be solid at the back. “Wouter did that very well,” Georges Leekens analyzes with us. “He has changed his system and given confidence to his defense.”
With Cuesta, McKenzie and Sadick there is indeed a wall. Kayembe and El Ouahdi are boys with big lungs. “If your building has good foundations, it is sturdy. If the foundations are not good, it will rattle on all sides. Wouter has seen this cleverly,” says Leekens.
Also against the ‘dark horse’?
There is a good chance that Vrancken will also maintain that composition. After all, the battle against Antwerp also has to be won in midfield. Just like against Cercle and Club. Only Anderlecht is a bit of a ‘dark horse’.
They don’t want to have the ball and often skip midfield to play across the flanks as much as possible. The question is whether Kayembe and El Ouahdi will be able to cope with all that. But Genk may well have been launched in its new setup.
And wouldn’t Genk even think carefully before letting him leave? We’re not sure they’ll find a better one anytime soon…
Tags: Wouter Vrancken intervened drastically and .. team track smart part Football News
-
