In one month, the Union went through all the emotions. Defeated by Standard on February 18, the people of Brussels followed with two other defeats including a terribly cruel elimination in the semi-finals of the Belgian Cup against Antwerp. In the process, they beat Genk and then qualified for the quarter-finals of the Europa League by beating Berlin.
During these rather crazy 30 days, the Union has gone from a mini crisis to the greatest achievement in its recent history. A look back at a turbulent period from which Karel Geraerts’ team came out with a smile…
A hard-to-swallow Liège slap
Before welcoming Standard to Stade Marien, all the lights were green. But the people of Liège will be the first grain of sand to stop the Brussels machine. By committing too many individual errors, the Union falls in front of its public. “The way Union played that night was not like him, remembers our football consultant, Alex Teklak. The people of Brussels had given too many chances by committing many errors and Standard had been clinically efficient. You can’t say it was a no match for the Union because it could have gone either way.”
There was an overconfidence in some players.”
Everything may not be to be thrown away, but a certain feverishness is present among certain players like Teuma, Lynen or Burgess, less imperial than usual. “He was clearly in the hard, advance Keys He made unusual mistakes and was less present in duels. There was perhaps a surplus of confidence in him as in other players.
This is confirmed during the trip to Westerlo a week later. After turning four times against Standard (2-4), Anthony Moris conceded four new goals in Campinese soil (4-2). After the game, something seems to have snapped. Rarely, some players even refuse to answer journalists’ questions. “In football, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, explains Victor Boniface. After the heavy defeat against Westerlo, we had to raise our heads and stay united. That’s what we did. We said to ourselves that defeats like that could cost us the title. I liked the way we fought to get back to the top.”
Feeling of crisis after Antwerp
Before a return to the fore, the Union first suffered a big disappointment in Antwerp by being eliminated in the semi-finals of the Croky Cup, on penalties. A third defeat in a row which plunges the team into a small crisis even if no player or member of the staff wants to admit it. “It makes sense to talk about a crisis when an overperforming team is in a bad dynamic, analysis by Alex Keys. But there was nothing dramatic either. It may seem spectacular to lose three times in a row but, over the whole season, the number of points taken by the Union is representative of their season. I wasn’t worried about this team even though we were seeing more and more signs of nervousness.”
“There were problems in the organizationanalysis by Karel Geraerts. We had to find solutions because we conceded too many goals. We also had to find the right lyrics and keep everyone together. Just because we lost three games in a row doesn’t mean the overall level wasn’t good.”
As often since his return to D1A, the Union managed to get out of this complicated situation thanks to his state of mind. By first winning a trap match against Eupen just three days after elimination from the Cup. “The players are mature enough to realize when they are less good, continue Keys. These are not kids that need to be put back on the right track. This is the hallmark of this team. They returned to the field with a very vindictive spirit and feeding on the criticism.”
“Players are mature enough to know when they’re not good.”
A shot to play in Berlin
Enough to attack the knockout stages of the Europa League with confidence. In Berlin, the Union dared to play their game unlike the return match against Glasgow Rangers or against Antwerp in the Cup. “The Union immediately felt that there was a shot to be made and they did it well. The relative quality of Berlin gave the players confidence. They understood that it was possible to pass because the tactics and the individual qualities of the Germans matched well with their style of play. And the Union is lucky to have unpredictable players capable of scoring at the right times. In Berlin, Boniface does not have a good first half hour…then scored a great goal.”
A few days later, the men of Karel Geraerts confirm their return to the fore by beating Genk on their ground. And by redistributing the cards for the title of Belgian champion. “We have shown that we are among the favorites for the title, commented Teddy Teuma. After our more complicated period, we got up at the right time. We knew that together we could turn around any situation, even in Genk.”
Switch mental
Once the qualification for the quarter-finals acquired, the word “crisis” seemed far away. Still in the race on two counts, the people of Brussels will now refocus on the championship this Sunday with a match against Mechelen which could formalize their qualification for the Champions Playoffs. “The hardest thing in these beautiful moments is to fall back to earth and to chain, avance Teuma It won’t be easy against Mechelen, we absolutely have to make a mental switch.”
“I don’t think the danger of euphoria hangs over them.”
“I don’t think the danger of euphoria awaits them, concludes Alex Teklak. The players are hungry and European qualification will give them confidence in the league. It’s not starlets who are going to start talking about it. I’m looking forward to the Champions Playoffs. The title will be played between Genk, Antwerp and the Union who will have to try not to lose too much energy and points with the Europa League.”
A month after the slap received against Standard, the Union is up again. And can continue to dream big between now and the end of the season, in the league as well as in Europe…
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