Nicky Hayen: “Feared a repeat of the first-leg scenario”
Nicky Hayen made several rotations in the lineup against Beerschot but still saw his team play a strong first half. After the break, the performance dipped, but Club ultimately secured a well-deserved 4-2 victory.
“Our first half was good, but after the break, things stalled. They changed their system in the second half, but the biggest issue was that we made poor decisions, played sloppily, and couldn’t find our rhythm. At one point, I feared a repeat of the first-leg scenario where we squandered a 0-2 lead. The game was shifting, and you could see that some players who got their chance today don’t yet have 90 minutes in their legs.
Everyone tried to prove themselves today, and with the busy schedule, we need everyone. We know their qualities, but when others perform well, it’s sometimes a matter of waiting for your chance. In any case, we’re happy with the three points and pleased to continue our strong run.”
Bjorn Meijer: “A deserved and logical victory“
Coach Nicky Hayen made extensive rotations against bottom-placed Beerschot, including starting Bjorn Meijer. The Dutchman visibly enjoyed the opportunity:
“I’m quite pleased that I got to start tonight. I checked it yesterday, and the last time I started in front of our home fans was about eight months ago,” said the player from Groningen in his initial reaction. “It felt great, and of course, I hope to maintain this momentum. But I’m well aware that we have a big squad with a lot of quality. The coach has every right to bring in new players from time to time, and it’s up to us to repay that trust. Maybe we were trying a bit too hard to prove ourselves today.”
This leads to the question of why things went downhill after the break for the reigning champions:
“It’s true that some players, including myself, have recently spent more time on the bench, so in theory, we should be more fresh. On the other hand, the games are coming thick and fast, leaving little time to work on automatisms. That was especially noticeable after halftime when fatigue set in.
Still, the final takeaway shouldn’t be negative because we played a very good first half and didn’t face any real issues. We should focus on maintaining our level from before halftime. Ultimately, this victory can be called deserved and logical, although the 4-2 scoreline may sound more convincing than it was.”