© Dick Demey
Exit Christian Brüls at STVV. The Canaries reached an agreement with Zulte Waregem about the transfer of the playmaker to West Flanders.
Gunter Schoofs, Stefan Smet
Brüls will therefore no longer play for STVV. If he passes his medical tests, he can immediately start working for his new employer. Brüls signs a contract for 2.5 seasons at the Gaverbeek.
Zulte Waregem hopes to complete the transfer on Thursday and then wants to work on the arrival of a central defender, as young Lukas Willen is struggling with pubalgia.
Things suddenly went fast for Christian Brüls in the past two days. The 34-year-old East Cantonner emptied his locker in Sint-Jansstraat in Sint-Truiden on Thursday afternoon. Brüls left the training at 3 p.m. in Sint-Truiden for what it was, to then drive to West Flanders for his medical tests. Brüls, together with Ruud Vormer, must save the furniture at Zulte Waregem, STVV’s opponent in the cup competition next week. The arrangement – will Brüls play against STVV or not? – about that cup pot was still unclear on Thursday afternoon, it is expected that Brüls will have to focus on maintaining the competition and not on a possible cup final with Essevee.
© Dick Demey
Hollerbach: “Board called to inform me, not to ask my opinion”
Bernd Hollerbach was present at his press conference on Thursday at 2 p.m., the day before the game. At that time he was still not sure whether Brüls would train with him or not. “I don’t get nervous about such things anymore. It’s part of football”, Hollerbach shrugged. “It is the board that makes this decision. And Christian himself, of course. They called me to inform me, that’s all. Also to ask my opinion? No…”
“My group has shown enough times in a year and a half that we are strong enough to rise above such difficulties,” said Hollerbach. “There were also troubles in the summer. Each time we straightened our backs. That will be no different now. Shinji Kagawa is not yet ready to replace Brüls after his foot rehabilitation on Friday evening. He still needs one or two weeks, but I will find a solution if I can no longer count on Brüls. Last year we played one of our best matches of the season at Standard. I would be only too happy to repeat that. Even though that team has become more consistent compared to then. With eight busses of supporters behind us, we can always move a little more.”
