Boskamp warns Genk's morale crisis ahead of crucial Kortrijk clash

KRC Genk travel to the Cegeka Arena tonight to host KV Kortrijk, a match that could lift them from a bleak campaign, while former coach Johan Boskamp warns that the club’s lack of fighting spirit threatens to deepen the gulf between lofty top‑three ambitions and their current eleventh‑place, nine‑point reality.

The hosts can earn three points that are more than welcome. With only nine points, Genk sit on the eleventh spot in the Belgian Pro League.

Eleventh place far from ambition

The club’s ambition is to fight for a top‑three finish, yet the current tally sits well below that target. The gap between expectation and performance has widened sharply.

Boskamp, who once guided Genk to success, says the problem lies more with mindset than quality. He told Het Belang van Limburg the team appears “so laid‑back” and accepts defeat without protest.

He added, “If they lose, they just accept it,” a resignation never part of Genk’s DNA. Restoring aggression, he believes, is essential to climb the table.

Boskamp singled out Bryan Heynen and Matte Smets as players who should lead, but they are merely on the bench this season. He lamented that nobody seems willing to take the initiative, calling it “very strange.”

A failure to beat Kortrijk could trigger the first real crisis inside the Cegeka Arena. The match also offers a chance to rebuild confidence before a cup tie away to Virton.

Upcoming fixtures raise stakes

After Kortrijk, Genk face Standard, then away trips to KV Mechelen and Union. Each encounter presents an opportunity to close the gap, but the schedule leaves little room for error. Supporters can watch the Kortrijk showdown live from 20:45. Boskamp remains curious whether the weekend will bring a shift in attitude, hoping the players finally seize the initiative.