INTERVIEWS After four and a half years, Anderlecht finally managed to win at home against Club Brugge again. For coach Besnik Hasi, Vincent Kompany's successor, it felt like liberation. "It had to sink in for a bit, but I really enjoyed it," the coach said afterward, visibly relieved.
The scene spoke volumes: while Lotto Park was seething, Hasi sat back in the dugout and stared blankly ahead. "I just enjoyed it," he smiled. "I'm not a dancer—that's not in my nature—but I looked around and thought: what's going on here? It just had to sink in."
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Continue reading From criticism to applause Football can be cruel. Less than a week ago, Hasi's future was in jeopardy. A defeat against KV Mechelen could have resulted in a crisis.
But one week and six out of six later, everything seems different. "Last week, we supposedly couldn't play football and I was the worst manager in the country. Now, suddenly, we're back in contention for the title," Hasi said with a wink. "I'm not going to let that get me down. This was a small step forward, but we're far from there yet. It's still a young team that will make mistakes, although a victory like this is, of course, incredibly satisfying."
After the match, he received a warm embrace in the players' tunnel from chairman Michael Verschueren and CEO Kenneth Bornauw, the new leadership duo of the purple and white. "Their arrival can be a positive sign," Hasi said. "Many players know them well, and hopefully, they'll bring stability. Verschueren has the experience and connections to bring structure back. There's been too much negativity surrounding this club in recent years."
New energy That negative atmosphere had completely disappeared by Sunday. The fans sang at the top of their lungs—understandably so, as rivals Club Brugge were defeated at home for the first time since 2021.
Anderlecht seemed to have finally found the right formula. Hasi stuck with the same starting lineup as against KV Mechelen, exactly as he'd planned on his tactical board in Neerpede during the summer.
Up front, the attacking quartet of Cvetkovic, Hazard, Angulo, and Bertaccini remained, although Hazard played a slightly more central role this time, behind the Serbian striker. The purple and white's energetic start resulted in an early lead, which they held on to.
"With so much attacking talent, you can only succeed if everyone also does their part defensively," Hasi emphasized. "You saw that at Club Brugge against Barcelona: solidarity makes all the difference. Today, my players showed that mentality as well. Everyone went the extra mile—and that makes me proud. After the match, they were all exhausted, and I like to see that. That's how it should be."
