Anderlecht coach Vitor Bruno is keeping expectations low for his team in what he calls 'year zero'. The manager made the comments during the press briefing ahead of the away match at KV Mechelen acknowledging that results so far have been disappointing.
Vitor Bruno explains that the squad is in a fundamental rebuilding phase. He admitted to making mistakes himself in his team selections. The coach stresses that players need time and space to develop. "We work on it every day. It's not only about scoring," Bruno said. The current situation shows his point: Anderlecht sit 11th in the Jupiler Pro League with seven points from five matches. The team has scored only three goals and has an inconsistent recent form of DWLLW. The full standings show the gap to leaders Gent is eight points.
Bruno says he understands the fans' discontent due to the lack of wins. He admits the results are not what anyone hopes for. Yet, he doesn't want this feeling to suggest a drop in commitment. "This is year zero. That doesn't take away the fighting spirit. We will fight for it," the manager stated. This mentality will be needed in the upcoming schedule, which fans can follow on our fixtures page. The immediate challenge is a rematch against KV Mechelen, who are in 15th place.
Friday evening's 20:45 kick-off carries extra weight due to recent history. The last meeting, on March 15 this year, ended in a 1-0 defeat for Anderlecht. It's a chance for revenge in a stadium where the home team is also struggling. For Anderlecht, it's a test of the resilience Bruno points to. A win would give the points tally a significant boost and positively influence the mood around the project.
The coach refuses to promise quick fixes and opts for a realistic narrative. He believes the process requires adjustments in playing style and trust in young players. This season's statistics, available on our stats page, show a team still finding its feet. With just three goals in five league games, attacking power is a clear area for improvement. The coming weeks, with a mix of home and away fixtures, will be vital to lay the foundation for the rest of the campaign. The next match is the away fixture at KV Mechelen on Friday, September 11.
