Club Brugge will host Union on Monday in a key match for the title. Without halving the points, the people of Bruges would not have been able to catch up with the people of Brussels. But now blue and black can even put Union on six points, with two games to go.
Between matches, the professional clubs debate adjustments to the competition formula. Abolishing the play-offs, as Club Brugge wants, will probably not happen. But putting an end to the halving of points is on the table. Club chairman Bart Verhaeghe is in favor of this abolition, even though it now benefits from it.
“My opinion has not changed because we are now in this situation,” Verhaeghe said on Wednesday after the elimination against Fiorentina (1-1). “I continue to find this halving a sporting absurdity. It’s just not correct. But we are in this situation. Then we will try not to hand it over again.”
Club had an hour of extra time against Fiorentina on Wednesday, but a late penalty, lightly awarded for a mistake by Brandon Mechele, put an end to the European tour. Verhaeghe praises Club coach Nicky Hayen and his little experienced staff, assistants Michiel Jonckheere, Hayk Milkon and Wouter Biebauw.
“At Club we are a team and Nicky Hayen understands that well. Everyone is involved again, everyone wants to go in the same direction again, everyone is important. Hayen can make his team play good football but also choose the result. He reminds me of Philippe Clement. Always calm, analytical and clear in his communication. People trained in our club usually do well. We also have to take that into account.”
Not always right choices
With so much appreciation, the question arises whether Hayen will also be head coach next season. “That is of course an option,” says Verhaeghe. “But there are also other candidates. We’re not going to act too quickly. Finishing the competition is the most important thing now, there is no time to sit quietly around the table. It really has to be over this time. We have not always made the right choices over the past two years. Last season we should perhaps have continued with Rik De Mil after Carl Hoefkens. This season Ronny Deila was disappointing because he was too focused on himself and did not work with that team. Yes, a lot of praise for Hayen, but I cannot say anything about the choice of trainer for next season.”
