After the Conference League match against PAOK Saloniki, we collected reactions from Michał Skóraś, Nordin Jackers and coach Nicky Hayen.
Michał Skóraś: “We are waren de betere ploeg”
Michał Skóraś started again in the starting line-up. The Polish winger showed eagerness and looked for spaces in the back of the defenders on his flank.
“We win, but we should have scored more. We had plenty of chances, but we only scored one goal. We were the better team. We looked for the spaces behind the defense. I feel good with this victory and we still have the away match ahead of us. We played better than PAOK. In the end we had a difficult time because fatigue set in in the team. Just keep the focus, keep it compact defensively and finish the chances. When the match starts, we keep the focus on our own game and the supporters can make a witch’s cauldron of it. It is now important to dig back into the depths there and score when we have the opportunities.”
Skóraś has every confidence from coach Hayen. “I feel good, both mentally and physically. I started the last three games each time. I work hard for these opportunities and I want to show myself to the team. I now hope to win in Greece. It was necessary to adapt to the level of the team, which is much higher than in Poland. It took me some time, but now I feel ready. I have the support of my teammates and staff. It’s great playing here, especially with the supporters. I’ll keep going for it.” (KN)
Nordin Jackers: “We can go to Greece with confidence”
Goalkeeper Nordin Jackers had little work to do against PAOK. The Bruges defense played with confidence and kept the lock on the door well. If Blauw-Zwart can repeat this next week, the semi-final is within reach.
“I have a good feeling after this match. Today we were the better team and we had the chances. It’s a shame that we only took a 1-0 lead, but there are a lot of positive things about next week. So we played good football and found the spaces. We came up with a few good opportunities and we didn’t give much away. PAOK didn’t get any great opportunities, so well done. If we bring this up again next week, we can get this over the line. It’s okay to go there with a 1-0 lead. We have shown on the field that we should not be afraid of this opponent. We can go to Greece with complete confidence. The belief in a semi-final is there and after today it has only become stronger.”
With Nicky Hayen as coach, the group seems to be playing football with confidence again. “Yes, I said it this weekend too. A new wind came with different tactics and different ways of playing. We try to monitor this as best as possible and for the time being it is working very well.” (KN)
Nicky Hayen: “We won’t dig in next week”
Club Brugge took a deserved victory against PAOK Saloniki, but afterwards there was disappointment because Blauw-Zwart could not take a bigger win.
“We are not satisfied with the 1-0 win,” said Nicky Hayen. “That is actually a positive thing. When you see that disappointment in the dressing room, you notice that there is a great winning mentality in the team. However, you could experience a little less pressure there next week if you win a little more today. We had plenty of chances, but we weren’t efficient enough. But we won’t dig in there. Unfortunately, we have three suspensions next week with Thiago, Mechele and De Cuyper. That makes it a little more difficult, but we have already proven in other games that we can count on other guys. We are now going to concentrate on Antwerp and then we will head to Greece with full courage.”
Club Brugge had an excellent opportunity to double their lead fifteen minutes before the end, but Igor Thiago missed from the spot. “Thiago has already scored five times from five penalties, so there was no reason to let anyone else kick. Of course, it is always easy afterwards. If you let Vanaken kick and he misses, you would question that too. That penalty could have given Thiago a boost of confidence, but unfortunately it did not work. He is not the first to miss a penalty and will not be the last. But he has again been very useful to the team and that is also important.”
Hans Vanaken had recovered from his illness and immediately played a hell of a match. “Hans is a very important part of the team and today he proved again how important he is to us. But when he wasn’t there last Sunday, we proved that we can also find other solutions. That makes it a strong whole. Everyone who has played under me in recent matches has proven their worth.” (SF)
Watch the press conference after Club Brugge – PAOK Saloniki here:
