Coach Van Bommel explains the current state of affairs at Antwerp: “We are not going to take any risks regarding Overmars”

The extremely successful 2023 ended on a negative note for Antwerp, which lost without a chance in Genk. “We have been on our toes for a year and a half, so the rest was very welcome,” said Mark van Bommel, who was the only first division team not to go on an internship abroad with RAFC.

Domestic internship

“It sometimes rained, it was cold, but we were able to complete our own program, with the occasional day off to make time for the family,” the Dutch coach looks back with satisfaction on the domestic training period. In the meantime, he saw Jacob Ondrejka and Anthony Valencia return from injury, but also a wing attacker out for a long time. “It is difficult to put a term on Balikwisha’s injury, but reaching the play-offs will be difficult. Valencia is still a doubtful case against OHL, Ondrejka cannot start yet but can come in.”

The Great Old trained in Antwerp during the winter break. — © Joris Herregods

Without Overmars

The absence of Balikwisha is a loss for the Great Old, especially now that it cannot call on Marc Overmars during the full transfer period. “Marc has been suspended, but we don’t know what that exactly means. We wait for clarity. His entourage is trying to obtain it from FIFA, but we have been waiting for a week now. And until that clarity is not there, we are not going to take any risks. Marc comes here (de Bosuil, ed.) not. Suppose he is spotted here, we want to be ahead of that.”

It is clear: Van Bommel is bored with the situation. The man who brought him to Deurne-Noord, his sounding board, is no longer at the club. “That’s strange for a trainer. Marc followed all the training courses, had a good idea of ​​the daily operations and knew the needs. He also had contacts with other players and arranged incoming and outgoing transfers. That’s all at a standstill now. Well, not entirely, because Sven Jaecques is of course still there.”

Sammy (to the) USA

No Overmars, no incoming transfers? Van Bommel did not want to have said that. “But there must be clarity,” he put an end to this topic. There are outgoing transfers. Ortwin De Wolf moved to Zulte Waregem and Sam Vines will not be on the Antwerp player list for much longer. “Sammy is in America,” Van Bommel admitted. After all, ‘Sammy USA’ is close to a return to Colorado Rapids, the club from which RAFC stole him in 2021.

Sam Vines is set to return to Colorado Rapids. — © BELGIUM

No bid for Vermeeren

Who, to Van Bommel’s great pleasure, is still walking around the Bosuil: Arthur Vermeeren. “I am very happy with that. And also with the fact that he himself likes until the end of the year (the season, ed.) stays with us. Still no bid has been received.”

The easy path

Van Bommel can therefore count on his goldcrest against OH Leuven. On paper, the current cup holder is the favorite to advance to the semi-finals, where the winner of KV Oostende – RWDM awaits. Van Bommel also could not deny that his club is in the ‘easy half of the table’ of the Croky Cup. “The other half of the table contains four top clubs (Gent, Club Brugge, Union and Anderlecht, ed.) and not on our side. But everything will depend on the form of the day. In the competition there are surprising results almost every week, so that is also possible in the cup. Only after a defeat you are out. So should we make it to the final? I tend to disagree. Just because we won the title and cup last year does not mean we have to extend the double,” Van Bommel keeps the pressure off lightly.

No party after Golden Shoe

Wednesday OHL, Sunday Charleroi. Antwerp has three full days to recover from the cup match, although it will not be an ordinary preparation for the competition match against the Carolos. There is a good chance that RAFC will win several prizes, including the top prize, at the Golden Shoe award ceremony on Thursday. But Van Bommel does not find the timing annoying at all. “Winning prizes is never annoying, whether it is individually or as a team,” grinned the former midfielder who played for PSV, AC Milan, Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona.

“We read what is in the newspapers, but we are not nervous. It is quite unique that one team has a chance to take home all the prizes, except for the women’s category. It means we’ve had a fantastic year. Last year we got a boost after the cup win (Antwerp won 9 out of 9 against Union, Genk and Club Brugge in the play-offs, ed.), but I don’t know if that is also the case with individual trophies. No matter who wins, there won’t be an extensive party. Charleroi is coming to visit on Sunday,” concluded van Bommel, whose – of course – Toby Alderweireld can show off the Golden Shoe on Thursday. “Makes sense, right?”

Can Mark van Bommel and Toby Alderweireld celebrate again on Thursday evening? — © Isosport

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