Club Brugge players have rallied behind goalkeeper Yann Sommer after a second error in the space of a few days. The 37-year-old Swiss let a ball slip from his grasp against Antwerp, leading to Snayder Porozo's equaliser, just days after a similar mistake in the European match against Aston Villa.
Joaquin Seys was clear in his support. "We must not start doubting him now, and he must not doubt himself either," the midfielder said after the 3-1 win over Antwerp. Coach Ivan Leko emphasised Sommer's professionalism. "He is one of the most professional players I have ever worked with," the manager reacted.
The errors
The first mistake came on Tuesday in the 2-3 defeat to Aston Villa. A shot from Nicolas Jackson slipped through Sommer's hands for the visitors' third goal. On Saturday at Jan Breydel, it happened again. After Hugo Vetlesen's penalty for 1-0, Sommer fumbled a seemingly harmless back-pass from a teammate. Antwerp defender Porozo tapped in the equaliser.
The reaction
Support from the squad was immediate. Defender Brandon Mechele and captain Hans Vanaken encouraged the keeper right after the error. The experienced core of the squad, with more than fifteen players who have been together for a long time, closed ranks. Leko pointed out that Sommer has proven himself a top goalkeeper throughout his career and that such moments are part of the job.
The context
The victory against Antwerp was vital for the league position. Club Brugge sit third in the Jupiler Pro League after six matchdays with fifteen points. They have scored twelve goals and conceded only three. The team is one point behind leaders Union St. Gilloise. Recent form shows inconsistency with three wins and two losses in the last five matches.
After Vetlesen's opener from the spot and the equaliser, the Norwegian put the home side ahead again in the fiftieth minute. Jan Virgili Tenas made it 3-1 definitive in the closing stages after an assist from Seys. The full match lineup and statistics can be found on our stats page.
The next assignment is the home match against KRC Genk on Sunday 20 September. Genk currently sit ninth. Preparations for that match, and the rest of the schedule, are on our fixtures overview. The team continues to work on defensive organisation, with Sommer's experience seen as a key anchor point for the new European adventure that lies ahead.
Club Brugge has published the full highlights of the 3-1 win against Antwerp. The goals from the match are now available to watch. The team, sitting third with fifteen points, scored its goals through Hugo Vetlesen (twice) and Jan Virgili Tenas.
