Club Brugge is facing an unusually long international break, described internally as a wellness break. Sixteen of the club's players have been called up by their national teams, fragmenting the core of the squad for the coming weeks.

Coach Ivan Leko indicated he would rather keep his opinion on the length of the pause to himself. "Politically, it is better not to answer this question," Leko said. Eight of the departing internationals are regular starters who will play at least three matches, complicating preparations for the busy period that follows.

Brandon Mechele, who scored in Saturday's 3-0 win over Genk, explained the challenge. "They train in a different way, they play a different kind of football," the defender said about the internationals. He stressed that players who get less game time must put in extra physical effort to maintain their fitness. Communication between staff and players will be more intensive during the break than usual.

Rest Schedule

For the three players not called up, Yann Sommer, Hugo Vetlesen and Freddie Potts, and the remaining core, a specific rest schedule applies. They get Monday off, followed by three training days. Then comes four days of rest before the group reconvenes. A week later, this pattern is repeated with rest on Sunday and Monday.

The timing of the break is notable, as Club Brugge immediately faces three Champions League matches in four weeks afterwards. The club currently sits third in the Jupiler Pro League with 18 points from seven games, just one point behind leaders Union St. Gilloise. The last result was a convincing 3-0 home win over Genk, with goals from Carlos Forbs, Lee Han-beom and Brandon Mechele. The full standings are available online.

After the break, an away match against RAAL La Louvière awaits on October 10th; they currently sit 14th. Preparation for that match and the European campaign is therefore fragmented. Four players suffered cramps after the playoff opener against Anderlecht, underlining the physical load. The top scorer this season is N. Tresoldi with three goals in six appearances; an overview of all stats is available.

It is up to the individual players to maintain their form during a period that resembles a wellness resort more than a football camp. Club Brugge's staff is keeping a close watch through extra communication lines, as the squad prepares for the key month of October.

The report in full is at HLN Voetbal