Ivan Leko: "Absolutely deserved win"
"I feel good," the Bruges coach began his account. "It's been some time since we were in the lead, so that's nice. I think it was definitely a deserved win, but the result (1-3) maybe doesn't reflect just how much better we actually were. We were much closer to 0-4 or 0-5 than that final 1-3 score. We showed aggressiveness, wanted to take control of the game and dominate. We especially wanted to put the ball in the last third of the field and then make sure there were a lot of infield players and overlaps. In the first 20 minutes of the game, I thought we played a very strong start that way. We got that 0-1 pretty early on and actually had to get to 0-2 soon after that. So overall I'm very satisfied, but we also know there are still four games to play. We did our thing and now tonight we have to enjoy that for a while. As of tomorrow morning the preparation for our next home game (Saturday against STVV) starts."
We also witnessed a livid Ivan Leko by the end of the game. "I was indeed very dissatisfied, because you can't swallow a goal that way. You can't be so naive as to lose the ball in that place. After all, you know in football that everything can change with just one action. Then they had that chance (through Huerta) where our goalkeeper produced a fine save. Concede another goal there, and suddenly it becomes exciting after all. In football, it is important that the better you are, the more humble you should also be. If you don't show respect, for example, you will be punished. That was why I was so angry at that moment. However, the main feeling after tonight remains pride in my team and everything we are doing. You feel that pressure every day when you're chasing and you can't allow yourself to take a wrong step. However, we have been in this business long enough to know that football is dynamic. Today is like that and starting tomorrow there is a new day. We will do everything we can to have the same feeling next Saturday after the game."
Union and Club are competing for the title, but STVV is also doing extremely well. "I reckon STVV is the best footballing team in Belgium, Club not included. They are the second best attacking team in Belgium. They have automatism, a good coach, a lot of movement and good players. We sometimes forget that this "small" team still had names like Kamada, Tomiyasu and Endo playing. So Japan provides some good players and at STVV there is just a mix of everything. I love watching them, so Saturday will be another interesting tie for us against them. We know well what kind of team we are playing against, but now we also need to enjoy ourselves and let the emotions out and recharge again. As of tomorrow, all of our focus will go towards Saturday," a satisfied Ivan Leko concluded.
Christos Tzolis: "Top performance"
Another game, another Man of the Match trophy to a Club player. This time it was Christos Tzolis, with one hell of a performance at the Lotto Parc.
"I also want to congratulate the team with these three points. It was a top performance from us which puts us in the lead now. We now need to keep hold of that position. We still have three home games left. We are playing with confidence."
Tzolis could have scored more, but Coosemans, among others, prevented him from scoring 0-2. "I realize I should have scored more. We could have been more efficient, but the three points are the most important. We have to build on this to finish those last four matches. I'm focusing on myself to get better. We are now going to prepare for the next match to put in another good performance there as well."
The entire team played a good match which clearly pleased Tzolis. "I am very happy with the performance of the whole team. We could have scored 3-4 more goals."
Hugo Vetlesen: "The coach gives us a lot of confidence"
The win in and against Anderlecht puts Club in the lead, something that clearly pleased Hugo Vetlesen. "We played strong, we play better every match. We are now in the lead and that feels good. We could have scored more, even in the first half. In the second half we could have even scored four more times if you review the chances."
Anderlecht was able to score after a mistake by the midfielder. "I want to find a footballing solution, but I lose the ball. That's unfortunate, but it happens. Our goalkeeper also made a very handsome save, but we got the points and that's the main thing."
He also heaped praise on coach Ivan Leko : "You notice he has a lot of experience, he steers us in the right direction. For example, at halftime he talked about the importance of keeping our positions, but he also stressed that we had to push on, that we should not rest on our laurels. He gives us a lot of confidence."
Vetlesen was shown a yellow card, making him miss out on next weekend's tie with STVV.
Hans Vanaken: "We are very close to our best level, but we also have to learn to manage those last 20 minutes."
A 1-3 win at the Lotto Parc helps Club into the lead of the Champions Play-Offs. Captain Hans Vanaken celebrated a 560th match in the legendary Club Brugge jersey.
"I almost had the assist of the season." he geamed. "It was a spur of the moment thing. It worked out well, but Tzolis failed to finish it off. That was a shame, because it would have been a nice goal if it had gone in." Club could have killed the game earlier on, with an even more emphatic scoreline. "We also have to take those moments. We had plenty of chances to score many more. Among others, Tzolis and Vermant came one-on-one with the goalkeeper."
Club immediately took control of the match and again scored the opening goal early on. "We are very close to our best level, but we also have to learn to manage those last 20 minutes. After 80 minutes we should actually be 0-5 ahead. Now that counter goal still comes and it becomes another nervous ending, which was actually totally unnecessary."