Anderlecht coach Vitor Bruno has responded to the whistling reaction from some fans after the home win against KV Kortrijk. The coach defended his exhausted squad and pointed to the heavy schedule affecting the team.
Anderlecht secured three important points against Kortrijk, slightly relieving pressure after a series of poorer results. The club currently sits eleventh in the Jupiler Pro League with three points from three games. They have scored two goals and conceded five, resulting in a minus three goal difference. The gap to leaders Charleroi is nine points.
Despite the victory, whistles were heard from the stands of the Lotto Park. When Vitor Bruno was asked about his understanding of this reaction, he replied: "Die vraag moet je aan hen stellen, niet aan mij." In the post-match press conference, the coach extensively referenced the taxing schedule. "My players are not robots or machines, they are people," Bruno emphasized. He stated that his squad cannot give more than they already are under difficult circumstances.
The trainer pointed out that modern football doesn't always guarantee big scorelines like 3-0 or 4-0, especially at the current intensity. He believes the situation of unequal weapons has been a reality since the start of the season. This was painfully clear in the earlier confrontation with Union, where Anderlecht had only one preparation day compared to two full weeks for the opponent.
The physical toll of the busy program is visible in the squad. Player Ojea could only feature for ten to fifteen minutes against Kortrijk due to a minor injury sustained the day before. Midfielders Kana and Llansana have had to play match after match without sufficient support or rest. Against Kortrijk, Oliver Antman came on for the final half hour to replace Nga Kana.
Anderlecht has little time for recovery and preparation. The next match, an important home game against Racing Genk, is already on the horizon this Sunday, September 6th. Genk sits seventh in the table, making it a tough challenge. Fans can view the full schedule on our fixtures page.
Oliver Antman, who came on as a substitute against Kortrijk, indicated that the three points were the most important thing. "We had the match under control, despite some counter chances from Kortrijk," the player said. He acknowledged that much progress is needed and that he himself must take steps. Antman also pointed to the full agenda and felt the team is doing reasonably well despite the league losses.
"When it gets tough, we have to show fighting spirit and scrap to hold on to the win," he added. The player stressed that it can always be better. The team's statistics can be found on our stats page, where the numbers illustrate the challenges.
The pressure remains high for Anderlecht. The home game against Racing Genk on September 6th is an opportunity to build momentum and climb the standings. Coach Vitor Bruno is proud of his players, especially after the difficult loss to Union. He noted that the team created two to three chances in the first half against Kortrijk and could have scored a second time in the second half.
The physical condition of the squad remains a point of attention. The coming days are vital for recovery before Genk arrives at the Lotto Park. The match kicks off on Sunday and is a direct confrontation with a team from the upper half of the table.
