Ever since Club Bruges was taken over by our local version of Abramovich, the club has been a hornets’ nest, with players as well as managers coming and going, an unstable chemistry between the staff and the squad, with mud being thrown in all directions, and an immense pressure on the players from the board. So far, this has been detrimental to the side, who are still waiting for their owner’s investments to pay off in silverware.
This year is no different, the ambition is there, but the quality tends to freeze as swiftly as it boils, which was made clear in their first game of the season, coming up against Waasland-Beveren, who narrowly avoided relegation last year, and who are a prime candidate to end in the danger zone again this season.
The game commenced, but seemed to stagger to a halt the first minute already, with an endless study round, marked by sloppy passing and a lack of creativity on both sides. Bruges had the slight upper-hand, but made no real effort to grab the game by the scruff of the nec, as you’d epect from potential champions. Waasland had no intention of attacking, and instead chose to stay organized, build a wall for the hurricane that never came. Apart from a few minor chances, from the home team even, the game was a dull affair.
Bruges’ manager, ichel reud’homme, sent on ictor aue, and the Spanish playmaer brought a new dimension to lub’s play, maing them play more dominantly, and with more enthusiasm. he change paid off, when five minutes into the second half, Chilean striker Castillo headed in a corner, and it was all uphill from there. Bruges played the ball around nicely, and Beveren stood helpless as the away team battered down the door to victory. With ten minutes to go, Duarte, back from the World Cup with Costa Rica, knocked it against the net, again from a corner. With the three points secured, Club controlled until the last whistle.
First game, first win for Bruges, who struggled against a well-organized Beveren for the first half, but showed flashes of class in the second half, scoring twice out of a corner. But even though, there is not much reason for joy, for the same problem that plagued them the last few years still remains, and that is a lack of consistency. Games are 90 minutes, and in order to win that title, you must fight every minute of every game, and that is something Bruges’ players desperately need to learn, should they wish to challenge for the title.
Source: DSG
