Club Brugge underwent a complete metamorphosis last month. While Blauw-Zwart performed very inconsistently in the regular season and fell below expectations, it seems to have become an unstoppable steamroller in the play-offs. After a thirteen out of fifteen they are suddenly competing for the title again.
The turning point seems to have been the change of trainer. After a defeat in Sint-Truiden in the final match of the regular season, Ronny Deila was fired and succeeded by Nicky Hayen. The interim coach has since made a big impression with the way he deals with his players and with his tactical decisions.
Small changes from Hayen make the difference
“It is not that we are playing football completely differently today,” says Hugo Vetlesen RTBF. “We also played very good matches under Deila, but things went wrong in the details. Today those details are in our favor.”
But the Norwegian midfielder does reveal some details that Hayen changed and that have made Club Brugge run again. His own role has also changed slightly.
New role suits Vetlesen better
“We have paid more attention to pressing and playing away football. Now we play in midfield with a number six and two numbers eight, before we played with two numbers eight and a number ten. That suits me better, because I can do something play higher,” Vetlesen explains.
Where Vetlesen first had to play in defense next to Nielsen or Onyedika, he can now enjoy himself next to Hans Vanaken. “Our understanding is perfect: Hans likes to feel the ball and I like to look for free spaces. With Raphael Onyedika, we have found the perfect balance in midfield,” he exults.
