A gratifying win for Club Brugge at KAA Gent, taking the team to the Croky Cup Semis. We had a post-battle talk with Hans Vanaken, Simon Mignolet and coach Ronny Deila.
Simon Mignolet: “Stoked to have made it to the Semis”
Making the most of its single chance of the game, Club qualified for the Croky Cup Semis at the expense of AA Gent. Despite the rough second half, goalie Mignolet was relieved with the result.
“By the end of the game there were some nerve-racking moments in front of our goal. But all in all, I didn't have all that much to do today except get to those high crosses. I reckon we played a good game. Before the game, I already said it would take full focus from the very first minute, as in the past we have taken things on differently and were down 2-0 after twenty minutes. In that respect, I think we took on this Cup game well with lots of intensity. We even took the lead after twenty minutes, and continued our fierce stance in duels and managed to win that second ball. That's how you need to take on Gent, always a game played with lots of intensity and dueling.”
“Playing an all-or-nothing game straight out of the Winter break is never easy, so I'm stoked we have made it to the Semis. It may not have been awe inspiring, but this has been our twelfth game in which we go unbeaten and with lots of clean sheets. In the Cup it's all about the result and that's going through. Club took on this game in a very mature way, and we really should have made more of the space that freed up in the second half. But at this point all that mattered was qualifying, and that's what I'm really proud of today. Anderlecht or Union in the Semis? It doesn't really matter, as it will once again be a true to style Cup game.” (FDC)
Hans Vanaken: "Just a fine win"
Club's skipper was all beams after the hard-fought victory over AA Gent.
“We started out well. You just know they will start with fire, but this time we were the ones doing so. We also managed to score in that fine period. We will be making our analysis of this game, as we weren't on par in that second half. They turned it into a real Cup game, and we really should have dampened their spirits by adding that second.”
AA Gent was on the lookout for that equaliser. “We saw the space in front of us, andn we really should have made more of it to score that second, it would have made it so much easier on us. We had some more slight chances, but they also didn't create all that much. It's just a fine win. Mission accomplished, and I'm already looking forward to the Semis," Vanaken concluded. (EV)
Ronny Deila: "Tough game, but happy to see us go through"
A satisfied Club coach Ronny Deila was not blind to his team's shortcomings in the second half.
"A very tough and balanced game. I reckon we were the better team in those opening 25 minutes, and we managed to scored that deserved goal too during that time. After that we lost momentum and they started getting into the rhythm of things a bit more. We suffered too much ball loss, and they applied pressure well. We opted for the long ball all too often and saw it comem back quickly. Nonetheless we did not concede all that many chances in the first half. We started out the second half with the same intentions, and I think we showed some good things then too. By the end of the game, however, we pulled back too much and suffered. But we also performed well under pressure, working hard for one another, even if our game wasn't good at that point. That's an important fact to take with us too, and helped us to another clean sheet. Our wingers worked hard for the team, and our defense was stable, and we were once again able to call upon a goalie capable of saving the day for us. Again, a tough game, but I'm very happy to see us go through. Maybe not in the best of ways, but at this point that doesn't really matter", a confident Club coach concluded. (TM)