Club Brugge manager Ivan Leko has delivered sharp criticism of his team's playing style following their defeat to AA Gent. This comes as the Blauw-Zwart sit second in the Jupiler Pro League with 9 points from four matches. Leko was particularly unhappy with a lack of grit and directness.
Ivan Leko voiced his frustration in a press conference. The Croat felt his players played the wrong match, focusing too much on possession instead of goals and counter-attacks. "With tikitaka you don't win matches in Belgium," Leko said. He added that he could have played himself, he found it so easy for the opponent.
The coach also pointed to the key moment of the match: a red card for Carlos Forbs. Leko called his winger's action something "you see at U16 level, but not with players worth 30 million euros". Nevertheless, he placed more weight on the general lack of power and speed in the team. Club Brugge have scored 8 goals and conceded only 2 so far this season.
Despite the disappointment in Gent, Club Brugge maintains a strong position in the standings. With three wins and one loss, they are in second place, just three points behind leaders Charleroi. Their recent form is LWWW, indicating consistency after the initial setback.
Leko's team now looks ahead to their next league fixture, an away match against Lommel United on September 4th. Lommel currently sit eighth. Fans can view the full schedule on our fixtures page. The strong defensive numbers, with a +6 goal difference, provide a solid foundation for the challenges ahead.
According to an analysis by HLN Voetbal, Club Brugge will face an Aston Villa side next week in the Champions League that is not yet firing on all cylinders. The English team has lost its first two league matches and has yet to score. Manager Unai Emery clearly has work to do.
This could present an opportunity for Club Brugge to secure a positive result in their first group match. Their current league standing provides confidence, but Leko's criticism of their sterile attack will certainly factor into preparations. The current standings show how vital every point is in the title race.
The immediate focus is on bouncing back in the league. The away fixture against Lommel United, scheduled for September 4th, is the next test. Lommel recently secured a victory against city rivals Cercle Brugge and will not be easy opponents.
Club Brugge must find the balance between the possession game Leko complained about and the effectiveness that led to the title. The squad overview, has the quality to combine both. The match in Lommel is the next opportunity to satisfy the manager and close the gap to Charleroi.
