Anderlecht coach Brian Riemer is looking forward to the top match: “If we win, there will be enormous pressure on Club Brugge”

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It has been May 6, 2018 since Anderlecht won at Club Brugge…But when that happens on Sunday in Jan Breydel, the blue and black will get back to within 12 points. Brian Riemer is not hiding, but is also putting the pressure on leader Union. “If Union doesn’t start shaking, they will become champions.”

Do you remember the Anderlecht team that last won at Club Brugge? Matz Sels was in goal, Josué Sa in defense, Lazar Markovic on the left and the goals were scored by Lukasz Teodorczyk and Ryota Morioka: 1-2. Since then, eight matches have followed in Bruges without a win for the Purple & White. “It is one of the most difficult moves to make,” says Brian Riemer. “It is a club with the same ambitions as us and they often create a hostile atmosphere there. Although that should also motivate us. Those who play football at Anderlecht live and die for these kinds of matches. We have a lot of respect for Club Brugge, but we go there to win.”

Delaney fit

The Purple & White is in a good flow. They are now in a series of 15 league matches without defeats and they are recovering more and more injured boys. Backs Ludwig Augustinsson and Killian Sardella made their return last week, now Thomas Delaney is also back. Although the experienced Dane normally starts on the bench. “We feel that our team is growing,” continues Riemer. “The form is increasing and everyone is getting better. That’s why it’s a good time to meet Club Brugge. If we can win there, the pressure on Bruges will also be enormous.”

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The latter is correct. Leader Union is already far ahead, but Anderlecht is second with 9 points ahead of the Bruges team. A win means a 12-point gap and Club being knocked out of the title race. “Still, I don’t think this can be a turning point in the competition. Don’t forget that Bruges is the club that – in my opinion – has invested the most in its team. They have a core with a lot of depth and quality. Although it is true that our position in the booth is more comfortable. Yes, there is also a gap between us and Union, but it is an advantage if you only have to chase one team. Those behind us are chasing two or more teams and that makes it extra difficult. In the play-offs there are always competitors who get points.”

The question is whether anything can be done about Union at all. If you saw those men raging against Eintracht Frankfurt, they apparently cannot be stopped. Yet Riemer does not give up on the dream. “I think what Union is doing is punishing. They play a lot of matches and they manage it very well, but if they also advance in Europe against Fenerbahçe, that will be four extra matches and then the play-offs start. There is a completely different pressure there. If you don’t have the habit of the big clubs dealing with that… All eyes will be on Union. Expectations will be high. They had a hard time with that in the past two seasons. Look, it’s simple. If Union doesn’t start shaking, they will become champions. We’ll see if they start to shake.”

Thiago suspended

The Brussels clubs have already qualified for the Champions Play-offs and the joust is already starting. But first let’s bring the confrontation with Club Brugge to a successful conclusion. After four draws in a row, a win would be enormously rewarding. Club also lacks suspended top scorer Thiago. “That in itself does not change much for our tactics,” Riemer continues. “A player who drops out will not make a world of difference and I also think his replacement Jutgla is very good. Agreed: Thiago’s physical impact made it easier for Brugge to play football under pressure, but Jutgla has other qualities that we will be on the lookout for. But again, we go to Bruges to win. There will be times when we have to defend well and retreat, but also times when we can take control of the game or counter. We already proved that we can score from open play, but also from the counter-attack. It is an advantage to be able to act in different ways.”

Dilemma: Skov Olsen of Anders Dreyer?

Finally, we present Riemer with another dilemma. Who does the coach prefer as right winger? The Dane Andreas Skov Olsen from Club Brugge or the Dane Anders Dreyer from Anderlecht? The RSCA trainer laughs. “Skov Olsen is a class player. When I was still at Brentford as an assistant, we also talked about him there. He has a beautiful left foot and when he cuts inside it becomes dangerous. We should avoid that as much as possible. That won’t always work, but still. Anders Dreyer is the player who suits us best. He can do a lot of damage with his pressing, is good in combinations and also has a great left hand. At this point I wouldn’t want to swap Dreyer for Skov Olsen.”

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