OTHER In the past five matches Nathan De Cat has been taken off around the hour mark three times, including last Sunday against Club Brugge. No cause for concern, insists coach Jérémy Taravel. "Nathan is someone who gives an enormous amount. That he sometimes is done after 65 minutes is no problem." "I also ask my players to give everything, both Nathan and the others. Read more »
INJURIES Marco Kana, who has been sidelined since early February with a thigh injury, is almost ready to make his comeback. "This weekend is a bit too soon for him, but he should be back in the squad next week," coach Jérémy Taravel said at his press conference yesterday afternoon. Read more »
OTHER Transfermarkt adjusted the market values of players in Belgium's top division today. Nathan De Cat is one of the big risers. His value is now estimated at 25 million euros, putting him in a tie for fourth place. Kos Karetsas is the player with the highest transfer value in our league at 35 million euros, followed by Joël Ordonez (32 million) and Christos Tzolis (30 million). Read more »
OTHER Anderlecht has announced that Jérémy Taravel will take charge as coach for the play-offs and the cup final. German coach Andreas Patz will join the coaching staff from next Tuesday. Taravel's strong results have most likely secured Anderlecht a place in the Champions' play-offs; only mathematically could something unexpected still alter that. Under his leadership, the purple-and-white also qualified for the Croky Cup final. Read more »
TRANSFERS Thorgan Hazard was named Player of the Month for February and now wants to win a trophy with Anderlecht. He is currently the league's leading scorer, but that trophy is not an end in itself for him. Hazard also seems very satisfied with Taravel's work regarding his own position. “I now have total freedom and am much closer to the finish. That suits me well,” he says. Read more »
TRANSFERS Anderlecht is among the clubs interested in Beau Reus, the 24-year-old goalkeeper of SK Beveren, reports Voetbal International. The purple-and-white are not alone: Club Brugge, Union and AA Gent are also tracking the Dutch keeper. Reus left AZ for Beveren four years ago. There he has developed into a very reliable goalkeeper. Read more »
OTHER There is a chance that head coach Rudi Garcia will include some surprising names in the Red Devils' upcoming training camp in the United States. Anderlecht players Thorgan Hazard and Killian Sardella are said to be on the extended preliminary list, and young talent Nathan De Cat could also get a shot with the national team. The Belgian squad leaves for the U.S. on 25 March for two friendlies: against the United States on 28 March and Mexico on 1 April. Read more »
TRANSFERS Moussa Ndiaye (23) is on loan at Schalke 04 until the end of the season. The Germans have signed him on loan without an option to buy. However, the Senegalese player has become a regular there, having started five consecutive matches. Sports director Frank Baumann has announced that Schalke intends to discuss a permanent transfer with Anderlecht this summer. Schalke 04 currently leads the 2. Bundesliga. Read more »
INTERVIEWS Undefeated since Jérémy Taravel took over as head coach, Anderlecht enters the final stretch of the regular season with renewed momentum. Last weekend's draw in Bruges confirms this resurgence. What can still happen in the playoffs? For Thomas Chatelle, a former RSCA player and now an analyst, the current situation at Sporting could even turn into an advantage. During the Champions' Playoffs, which start in April, Anderlecht will play without the usual pressure. Read more »
YOUTH RSCA's U13 team will participate in the Algarve Elite Cup on this weekend, one of Europe's most prestigious international tournaments for that age group. An invitation sent only to the continent's most respected academies… and Anderlecht is among them. RSCA has been drawn into Group B, alongside Benfica, Braga, and Brighton, among others. Read more »
OTHER Mario Stroeykens is not part of Congo's squad for the final of the intercontinental World Cup playoffs. On March 31, Congo will face the winner of the match between New Caledonia and Jamaica. The winner of that final will qualify for this summer's World Cup. Read more »
OTHER Anyone who would like to attend an Anderlecht training session can do so next Wednesday at Lotto Park. The stadium gates open at 3 p.m. Training begins an hour later. Afterward, the players will be available for autographs and photos for another half hour. Read more »
OTHER The Pro League has announced that the Belgian Cup final will kick off on Thursday, May 14 (Ascension Day) at 3 p.m. Tickets for this match at King Baudouin Stadium will be available starting Wednesday, March 18, through both clubs. Read more »
GAMES Moussa N'Diaye played 78 minutes in Schalke 04's match against Arminia Bielefeld. Schalke won 1-0 and are now two points clear at the top of their league. Keisuke Goto played the entire match for Sint-Truiden against Cercle Brugge; the Canaries won 2-1. Luiz Vazquez played 85 minutes in Getafe's match against Betis. The Madrilenians won 2-0 and are now ninth in the ranking. Read more »
OTHER What did Jérémy Taravel change in Anderlecht's tactics? A Het Nieuwsblad journalist analysed the Mauve-and-White's matches through a tactical lens and finds that Taravel has shifted Thorgan Hazard's position, which has helped the midfield perform better. Under Besnik Hasi and Will Still, Hazard was used as the most offensive player in the midfield triangle. The 32-year-old, however, is not the most mobile and his defensive output is limited. Read more »
OTHER What a difference from last season: then Anderlecht managed only 1 point out of 36 against Club Brugge, Union and Genk. This season it's entirely different: against the current top three Anderlecht has picked up 11 of 18. Against Club Brugge it even holds the upper hand with 4 of 6. The home matches against Club Brugge (1-0), Union (1-0) and STVV (2-1) were all won. Read more »
INTERVIEWS After leaving Anderlecht in early February, Lucas Biglia is looking ahead. He hopes to start working as a head coach next season. “I am in talks with two clubs from Argentina and one from Serie B,” says Biglia. “A return to Belgium is also not out of the question.” Read more »
OTHER Serbian defender Mihajlo Ilic had a difficult start at Anderlecht and did not immediately convince. However, since the arrival of Jérémy Taravel, the player on loan from Bologna seems to be growing into his role and making a stronger impression. Read more »
