Hans Vanaken "This was a mature victory"
Club secured a big 4-1 victory, but it still did not go as smoothly as the result suggests. Hans Vanaken gave the following analysis: "For us it came down to disrupting a very low block and when you are 0-1 behind, it becomes even more difficult. We were however prepared that Dender could be dangerous especially on the counter and at halftime, but nevertheless it became 0-1. As a home team you then try to create something by patiently looking for the gap and fortunately we were able to equalize fairly quickly and without forcing the game, we made it 2-1 before halftime. Also in the second half we remained apprehensive of their counters, but Dender remained in their hedgehog position until a few minutes before the whistle when they suddenly went all out. And then you see that suddenly space comes and then you also see that we take full advantage of that space to still score twice. Of course it is good for the confidence that both Jutglá, Skov Olsen and Talbi managed to score, which can only benefit them for the next matches. This was a mature victory for me."(FDC)
Maxim De Cuyper: "Accomplished our task today.
After the win against Dender, Maxim De Cuyper looks back with satisfaction, "Dender is a difficult team to play against, and they showed that again here today. But we performed our task, and kept the three points at home. We would have liked to have finished it a little quicker, but in the closing stages we still took some distance. Even though Dender had a few chances, we didn't give away very much today. We have a solid program, now it's looking ahead to the cup game."
Brandon Mechele: "Victory on character"
Club started the return round with a win against promoted Dender, although the national champion had a tougher time than the final score suggested. Brandon Mechele also shared that opinion : "It's true that we didn't play our best game today, against a rather low block at Dender. The ideal scenario would be to take an early lead ourselves, but after 15 minutes they scored 0-1 against the run of play. Was this a bit of a shock? Actually no, although something like that should be avoided but in the end we also rectified that lopsided situation fairly quickly. Although we should have finished things off much earlier in the second half, that 4-1 remains a nice result. Again, I realize very well that in principle we are capable of much more. On the other hand, we did what we had to do. Although it was more a victory of character, but that is also allowed sometimes. It wasn't easy today and that's when it's important to get the three points in such games. Job done and everyone happy, right? Moreover, it is good that both Ferran and Andreas scored goals. We realize that they have been searching a bit the last few weeks, but they have continued to work hard and it was just a matter of time before those goals would follow. For a striker, it is nice anyway to find their way to the nets from time to time. Today they managed to do so and so they deserve kudos. Credit to both and hopefully they will succeed again next Tuesday in the cup game at Patro Eisden. Moreover, we now put the pressure back on leader Genk, who still have to get going tomorrow in the Limburg regional derby against STVV." (MV)
Nicky Hayen: "Pragmatism won today."
Blauw-Zwart kept things tense for a long time against Dender, but eventually scored a big win. Nicky Hayen was therefore satisfied with the result.
"It was definitely a bit difficult tonight, but we predicted that a bit," the coach began his analysis. "If you know we had a tough game on Wednesday and had the return trip on Thursday. Then yesterday we had one practice and today game, so that's very close together. Then you always want to try to play dominant and fresh soccer, but we knew it was also against a very stiff opponent who was going to catch us low. Then at the 0-1, we still got into a slump and that's the thing, when we were ahead 2-1, that you have to avoid. I know this is not always very nice to see for the public, so I do understand. However, at times you also have to be able to take a businesslike approach and not go looking for that 2-2 in the conversion again. In the end you do push very hard and make 3-1 and 4-1, which is a nice result in the end. "Club fell behind 0-1 and that didn't make it easy against a double defensive belt. "We knew their block was going to be lower, but that we had to stay patient. Once you then make that 1-1 and 2-1, you again have that comfortable feeling. You also saw that a lot of players were not 100 percent fresh. That's also the only understanding I ask for, because it was already long weeks. We keep trying to bring fresh soccer, but I think today the businesslike approach won out." The crowd did occasionally morph when playing backwards again. "We try to attack, but run into the knife at the 0-1. When you've already lost a lot of strength this week, you just have to dare to keep the ball in the team sometimes, especially when they don't start putting pressure. A team like Dender is waiting for you to make a mistake and then strike hard. That happened at 0-1 and we couldn't let that happen twice. Then I am happy that the substitutes came in fresh and brought dynamism. I am also happy for the young guys and, for example, for Chemsdine Talbi who scored twice. The 3-1 and 4-1 is perhaps exaggerated, but we knew it was going to be a difficult match. "Tuesday Club plays in the cup against Patro Eisden Maasmechelen. "We tackle every match to win and preferably with scintillating soccer. However, that doesn't always come to order and for that you also need two teams. In the end, you win this match again and in the past this might not be the case. So the fact that we do win is also another step forward. "No substitutions were made to the starting lineup for this match, but they are expected on Tuesday. "Indeed, that will probably happen, but we are not going to rotate for the sake of rotating. Patro didn't just knock out Charleroi 4-1 either, so we are wary. We just have to believe in our own qualities again," Club's coach concluded.