INTERVIEWS Who will be Anderlecht's striker tomorrow against STVV? Will Luis Vazquez remain first choice? Or has Mihajlo Cvetkovic reversed the hierarchy with his goal against Standard Liège? "We'll decide tomorrow (today, ed.) who plays," Besnik Hasi said yesterday. "Whoever it is, I hope that player is ready to give it his all for ninety minutes."
Vazquez has been under fire in recent matches. Wouldn't he suffer a mental blow if he has to give up his starting spot? "If you're an Anderlecht player, you have to be able to handle competition," Hasi said yesterday at his press conference. "So I wouldn't say Vazquez would suffer a mental blow. Whoever it is, I hope that player is ready to give it his all for ninety minutes."
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Continue reading Is Cvetkovic ready to play ninety minutes? "I think so. He came on really well as a substitute in the last match. That goal gave him a boost, I think. He then went to Serbia for the U19 national team, but when some of the first team players dropped out, he was promoted. He even came on as a substitute for five minutes. That was a positive boost for him too. He's also played some good matches for the Futures. So why wouldn't he be ready?"
After the match against Standard Liège, Cvetkovic celebrated his winning goal extensively with the supporters. Does Hasi think this dented Vazquez's confidence? "No, I don't think so. I certainly don't see any difference in training. They're good colleagues and work hard. All three strikers, by the way."
Isn't it perhaps easier for Vazquez to come on as a substitute than to start? "You do indeed have players who come on well and make an immediate impact. Others just have to start. Raman, for example, is someone who can come on well as a substitute. When Luis comes on, crosses have to come from the wings to utilize his strengths. That's often not the case."