Club Brugge coach Ivan Leko will have to work with a training group of just six players over the next three weeks. The long international break disrupts preparations for the important home match against KRC Genk this coming Sunday.

Around twenty players from the Blauw-Zwart squad have been called up by their national teams. This leaves Leko with only those who have not departed. The availability of captain Hans Vanaken and defender Kyriani Sabbe for the Genk match was still uncertain at the time of the press conference.

Leko stated he supports his players leaving for international duty but acknowledged the practical issues for club coaches. "I have friends who are coaches at clubs. I have friends who are national team coaches. And I have friends who are national team directors," said the Croatian manager. He added, "If my players are fit, then I like them to go."

Sabbe extends

Amid the concerns over the break came positive news from the Jan Breydel Stadium. Defender Kyriani Sabbe has extended his contract with Club Brugge until the summer of 2030. The 21-year-old Belgian, who made his debut in the 2022-2023 season, has become a mainstay. In total, he has already played 118 official matches for the club, scoring six goals and providing eleven assists. With Club Brugge, Sabbe has already won two league titles, the Croky Cup and the Supercup.

Context

The situation comes at a key point in the season. Club Brugge currently sits fifteenth in the Jupiler Pro League with three points from six matches. Leko's side will host ninth-placed Genk on Sunday. The last meeting between the two teams, on 26 December last year, ended in a spectacle: Genk won 5-3. The full standings are available online.

The squad issues are compounded by the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who is on duty with Switzerland. Reserve keeper Argus Vanden Driessche (19) and third-choice Nordin Jackers will man the posts in training over the coming days. The visit of Genk is a vital test in the search for consistency. Club Brugge beat Antwerp 3-1 last weekend but has an inconsistent recent form of three wins and two losses in its last five league games. The fixtures show the full schedule awaiting after the break.

Sabbe's extension provides long-term security, but in the short term Leko must be creative with his limited resources. Training sessions leading up to the Genk match will focus mainly on tactical discussions and individual fitness. The game against the Limburg side kicks off on Sunday evening in Bruges.

The report in full is at HLN Voetbal