INTERVIEWS On Thursday evening, Anderlecht advanced to the next round of the Europa League with a 3-1 victory over Hammarby. Still, coach Vitor Bruno wasn't entirely satisfied after the match. The first half, in particular, gave him pause for thought. After halftime, he saw a completely different Anderlecht, thanks in part to the substitutes.
“We mustn't underestimate Hammarby's quality,” Bruno said. “In the first half, we struggled to gain control. We wanted to make some changes after halftime. That wasn't so much about bringing in Ludo and Josh, because our structure remained largely the same. The players who came on simply brought a different dynamic.”
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Continue reading According to Bruno, it all starts with pressing. “As a team, you have to be able to apply pressure. That's the starting point. In the first half, that intensity was missing; after halftime, it was there. As a result, you saw a completely different Anderlecht.”
Cvetkovic Provides a New Boost The Portuguese coach had already anticipated that his substitutes would play a key role. “I told the guys on the bench that they could be just as important—maybe even more important—than the starters. I knew we'd need fresh legs.”
One of the substitutes who made a difference was Mihajlo Cvetkovic. The Serbian forward immediately brought more threat and energy after coming on. That raises the question of why Cvetkovic even started on the bench. Bruno was able to laugh about it afterward. “If he reacts like that every time he's on the bench, I'll always put him on the bench from now on,” he joked. “Though he probably won't be too happy to hear that.”
Then came the serious explanation. “He had a minor issue at the start of preseason and lost five days because of it. That basically caused him to fall behind. Besides, Sikan has worked hard for the team. But Cvetkovic played a very strong game in the second half.”
Bruno Calls for Experience Meanwhile, Bruno still sees work to be done in the transfer market. According to the coach, the current roster is exceptionally young, and additional experience is necessary.
“We know where the needs lie. This is a very young team. You can't put all the pressure on those guys. They have tremendous quality, but experienced players need to guide them. Those players need to give them the confidence to make mistakes.”
Bruno consults daily with sporting director Antoine Sibierski about transfer plans. “We talk every day. Players are also always welcome to drop by my office. As long as those young guys keep giving it their all every day, we'll make the right decisions.”
