Champions League
Club Brugge chooses battle in Eindhoven, no more selfies
Club Brugge will not travel to Eindhoven on Wednesday for a stadium tour; coach Ivan Leko emphasizes that his team only accepts a victory at the Philips Stadium, after he praised the qualities of PSV and believes they are competitive in the Champions League.
Leko's vision of the Champions League
Leko said that he is impressed by the qualities of PSV, but that he accepts nothing less than a win at the Philips Stadium. He described Peter Bosz's team as a ‘winning machine’ and mentioned the experience of Ivan Perisic and Sergiño Dest at European top clubs.
Although Belgian clubs sometimes performed differently in the Champions League in the past, Club Brugge has proven in recent years to be a serious contender. The reigning champion of Belgium has also reached the knockout stage in each of the last three participations.
Inter knocked three weeks ago in Siro, a result that Leko cites as an example of competitive play.
Leko typed: ‘We no longer take selfies when we visit somewhere in the Champions League’, and added that Belgian teams no longer just participate, but are now also competitive.
‘We love to attack, but we also want to defend. This is the Champions League; you have to be top in every aspect and not give away chances’, Leko said.
He acknowledges that this will be a challenge against the offensively strong PSV, but believes his own team will create chances.
‘Two teams that want to implement their own ideas’, he emphasized, and added: ‘If you put everything together, it should become a very beautiful match.’
Bosz praises Vanaken ahead of the clash with PSV in Eindhoven
Midfielder Hans Vanaken finds it difficult to pick a favourite, because the balances seem equal. ‘We know each other’s qualities; they are the best teams in their own country’, he concluded.