© BELGIUM
The change of trainers at Club Brugge also gave Genk coach Wouter Vrancken overtime. “We have made analyzes of Club Brugge, Fulham and Bournemouth matches.”
Marnik Geukens
It is a very strong statistic: for the sixth time in seven games – the exception is the cup match in Westerlo – KRC Genk is up against a team that recently made a trainer change. For the second time, the game against Racing will even be the debut of the coach of the opposing team. After Brian Riemer (Anderlecht), Scott Parker is also on the sidelines in Genk for the first time as a trainer of Club Brugge.
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Not a gift for Wouter Vrancken and his staff, who are not sure what line-up, field occupation and tactics they can expect.
“That is why we analyzed match footage from both Club Brugge and Parker’s former clubs Fulham and Bournemouth,” says Vrancken. “Of course we start from our own strength and principles in the first place. But every detail can make the difference. As a staff you still want to prepare the players optimally for the match and indicate things that they may be confronted with. Those things also come back during the training sessions for a competition.”
What is typical about coach Scott Parker’s teams? “I won’t go into that in more detail now,” smiles Vrancken. “We are not going to make the opponent smarter than he already is. But we have also shed light on the Channel.”
© Dick Demey
Lessons from Kortrijk
KRC Genk closed 2022 with an exceptional defeat. One that has not lingered but should not pass unnoticed either.
“Because such a defeat also has its causes,” says Vrancken. “You have to deal with that. In Kortrijk we knew where the spaces were, but we didn’t use them. Our last pass in particular was too often not good enough. Just like in the cup against Anderlecht, we also lacked depth. We have formulated the necessary solutions for this.”
Lessons can also be learned from the undeserved defeat (3-2) in the first leg. “There are no real feelings of revenge, because that performance has given us a lot of confidence despite everything and was the basis for the rest of the first round. Of course as a player you are even pissed after such a defeat. But we can do much more with an analysis of the things we did well or less well in that match.”
Twelfth man
For the first time in more than three years, the ‘Sold Out’ sign can be pulled up in the Cegeka Arena. Much to the coach’s delight.
“We are very happy that the enthusiasm is contagious both on and off the field. Moreover, it is a huge extra asset that can make all the difference. You saw that in our previous home match, the cup match against Anderlecht. After a long World Cup break, we immediately had to play extra time. Physically that is very tough, but thanks to an extra push from the twelfth man we were able to qualify for the quarter finals.”
